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MEMOIRS 



OF tHE 



EXTRAORDINARY MILITARY CAREER 

OP 

JOHN '§HIPP, 

r.ATE A LIEUTENANT IN HIS MAJESTY's 8TTH HBGIMBNT., 
WRITTEN BY HIMSEI.F, 



" Rude am I in speech, 
.\iid Jitlle blessVi with the soft phrase of peace ; 
For. since these arms of mine had seven years' pith. 
TiQ now some nine moons wa.sted, they Jiave used 
Their dearest action in the tenied rieid ; 
And little of this great world can I speak, 
More than pertains to faats of broil and battle : 
*" * * Yet, by your patience, 

f will a ro'.ind unvarnished tale deliver." 



IN TWO VOLUMES. 

vol.. I, 



PRINTED BY J. <S- J. HARPER, S3 CLlt'F-ST. 

■OLD BY COLLINS AND HAX^NAT, COLLInJS AND CO., G. AND G. GARTILL , 
O. A. ROORBACH, AND E. BLISS; — PHIL ADELPHJA, CAREY, LEA, AKI 
CARET, AND JOHN GRIGG ; — BOSTON, RICHARDSON AND LORD, ANI 
HiLLJARD, GRAY, AND CO. ; — BALTIMORE, W. AND J. NEAL. 

1829. 



PREFACE, 



In laying before the public a familiar aird unre- 
served detail of the ircider»ts and adventures of my 
past life, I trust it will not for a moment be supposed 
that I am actuated by vanit}?, or by a desire to make 
an ostentatious display of m) military services. That, 
in the course of those services, I have exercised some 
degree of daring, to the merit (if any) attached to 
which I may justly lay claioj, I do not affect to deny ; 
but it is far, very far, from my thoughts, to assume 
the possession of uncommon fortitude, or to arrogate 
to myself any degree of heroism superior to that 
which would be displayed, on occasions which re- 
quired it, by every brave oflBcer in his Majesty's 
service. 

Having thus, first, disclaimed all intention of boast- 
ing of my performances, or of holding myself up as 
a prodigy of valour, it becomes me next to declare 
that I do not pretend to afford the reader any impor- 
tant intelligence respecting our Irsdian possessions, 
either as regards statistics, or politics. Information 
ont hese subjects must be sought in the works of 
writers of far higher pretensions than the humble 
author of these memoirs. 

My design has been to present the public with a 
simple and unadorned narration of my own life, from 
the period of my infancy to the date oi my having been, 
unfortunately, compelled to quit his Majesty's service. 
Interspersed with the incidents and adventures 
which have marked my career, will be found various 
amusing, and some affecting anecdotes, with my 



iV PREFACE-, 

Temarks (oiFered with extreme diffidence, though with 
great sincerity,) on corporal punishment in the army, 
and on other subjects upon which I deem myself 
privileged to avow my sentiments, with the conviction 
that I cannot possibly give offence to any one. 

If, among the anecdotes which I have introduced, 
the eye of criticism may detect many which may be 
deemed of too trivial a nature, and devoid of that 
piquancy which can alone confer a value on such 
light and unimportant materials, I can only plead that 
I may have been led to over-estimate their merit, 
from the hearty laughter which they created when 
they were first noted b\ me ; and I trust it will be 
recollected that it is a rough soldier who has ventured 
to think them worthy of publicity. So, also, if in 
my account of the battles and sieges in which I have 
had the honour to participate, my details shall appear 
flimsy or meagre, more especially as concerns the 
objects of the government of Inaia in the various 
campaigns in which I have been engaged, be it re^ 
membered that I do not profess to know their designs ; 
that my constant occupation in my professional duties 
afforded me no time to study them ; and that it is the 
subaltern's duty to act, and not to reason. 

It is with considerable pain that I feel myself bound 
to confess that my principal object in submitting these 
memoirs to the notice of the public, is the hope oi 
attracting attention to my present unfortunate situa- 
tion. Inured, I may almost say from my infancy, to 
the pursuits of war ; having always been an enthu- 
siastic admirer of the profiession of a soldier ; and 
having attestations that on many perilous occasions I 
have performed the duties of that profession to the 
satislaction of my superiors ; I cannot but admit that 
I feel with intense severity the sentence which con- 
demns me to be no longer an aspirant in the field of 
glory. To the justice of that sentence I bow with 
ijumilitv, for it seems to be the opinion of my best 



PEEFACE. t 

friends that I acted intemperately under mistaken 
notions ; but its effect I must ever feel acutely, and 
i cannot refrain from expressing a hope which I can 
never cease to indulge^ — that I shall not be permitted, 
at the age of forty-three, and in active and vigorous 
health, to linger out my days an outcast from that 
profession in vi^hich my life has hitherto been spent ; 
for vi'hich I am qualified by nature and habit ; and to 
which I am enthusiastically attached by inclination. 

My memoirs, such as they are, I leave to the in- 
dulgent consideration of a liberal public. 

John S HIPP. 

Bhurtpore Cottage, 

Mpha Road, RegenVs Park, 

January, 1829. 



1* 



MEMOIRS 

OF 

JOHN SHIPP, 

&c. &c» 



CHAPTER L 



In the ponderous mouldy register of the little market- 
town of Saxmundham, in the county of Suffolk, covered 
with the red remnants of the old worn-out velvet pulpit- 
cushion of the said village church, into which the Chris- 
tian religion had been beaten and enforced, both witL 
clenched fist and pointed elbow, and which now plainly 
told the congregation that it had at last yielded only to 
Parson Brown's impressive manner and arguments; in 
this prodigious volume,— protected by huge brass clasps^ 
which naught but the rough hand of the man of skulls* 
could force to obedience, — after the oft-wetted thumb had 
aroused some hundreds of gigantic leaves from their peace- 
ful slumber, and the book had opened wide its time-worn 
pages, there was (and I doubt not is still to be) discovered, 
a plainly- written record, setting forth, in most intelligible 
terms, that 1, John Shipp, the humble author of these me- 
moirs, came into this wicked and untoward generation, or 
the 16th day of March, A. D. 1785. If this register be 
an authentic enrolment, which I have neither reason nor 
inclination to doubt, I was the second son of Thomas anfl 

* The sexton of the parish. 



8 MEMOIRS OF JOHN SHIPP. 

Letitia Shipp, — persons of honest fame, but in indigent 
circumstances, who bad both "drank deep" of the cup of 
sorrow. Of the latter of those dear parents I was bereft 
in my infancy ; and, as my father was a soldier in a foreign 
cHme, thus was I thrown on the world's tempestuous ocean, 
to bufliet with the waves of care, and to encounter the 
breakers of want. 

At the death of my poor mother, I was left, with my 
elder brother, in utter destitution. The advantage which 
other children derive from the support and good counsel 
of an affectionate father, we had never known ; and we 
were now suddenly bereft of a fond mother's fostering 
care, and, with it, of our humble paternal home. Where, 
under such circumstances, could we look for protection ? 
Friends we had few, if any ; and those who might have 
been generously disposed to assist us, were, unfortunately, 
incapacitated, by their own distessed circumstances, from 
extending a helping hand towards us. JSeed I feel shame, 
then, in avowing that there was one place of refuge, and 
one place only, in which two helpless orphans could obtain, 
at once, food, clothes, and shelter ; and that that one 
asylum was — the village poor-house ! 

At the age of nine I was deprived of my brother, who 
was pressed on board a man-of-war. He was a remark- 
ably fine youth of about fourteen ; and, being of a wild- 
spirited disposition, I have every reason to believe that but 
little pressing was required to induce him to go to sea ; 
but rather, that being, like myself, homeless and depend- 
ent, he gladly availed himself of the opportunity which 
offered of setting his youthful heart free from bondage, by 
becoming a volunteer in the service of his country. Since 
that period (now upwards of thirty years) I have never 
heard of him ! Whether he early met a watery grave, or 
still lives, I know not ; but this I know, and cannot restrain 
myself from stating, that the uncertainty of his fate haunts 
me day and night, and stands an eternal barrier between 
me and peace. Could I but again see him, though it were 
even as a wandering mendicant, in the tattered garb of 
poverty, it would afford me comparative happiness to what 
I now feel from entire ignorance of his doom. Should 
this simple narrative, by any possible chance, happen to 



MEMOIRS OF JOHN SHIPP. 9 

meet the eye of one who is acquainted with my poor 
brother or his fate, any information concerning him will 
be gratefully received by me,* — to say how gratefully it 
were difficult to attempt. 

To return to my own memoirs : now that my brother 
had left me, I was desolate indeed ! His departure afflicted 
me most sincerely, and I felt myself alone in the wide 
world, a friendless, isolated being. But the spirits of child- 
hood, buoyant and elastic, though they may be depressed 
for a time, readily accommodate themselves to all exigen- 
cies, and r4se superior to the greatest calamities. Griefj 
however poignant at first, will not dwell long with youth ; 
and the ingenuity and curiosity of a boy, ever on the alert 
to discover some new expedient with which to amuse his 
mind and to gratify his fickle fancy, efiiectually prevent him 
from indulging in unavailing despondency. I was na- 
turally a wild dog, of an active, unconquerable spirit ; and, 
although the miseries peculiar to my friendless situation 
could not but at first severely affect me, yet, after a short 
time, 1 found that, in spite of them all, I had so contrived 
it as to have established in the village a character for mis- 
chief infinitely superior to that possessed by any other boy 
of my own age. This character, however reverenced by 
boys of the same genius, was not, it must be acknowledged^ 
very likely to increase the wumber of my real friends ; and 
I therefore cannot speak in very rapturous terms of the 
comforts I enjoyed at this period of my youth. I have a 
recollection of sundry tricks and misdemeanours in which 
1 was very actively concerned, and for which I was fre- 
quently as deservedly punished ; and, as far as my memory 
serves me, my time, just at this juncture, was passed in a 
pretty even routine of planning and executing mischief, 
and receiving its reward. 

This, however, was not long to last ; for fickle fortune 
threw an incident in the way which diverted my attentioo 
from all my former tricks and frolics, and turned my 
thoughts into a new channel. One autumn's morning, in 

* My brother's Christian name was Robert. He was pressed in the 
year 1796, but on board what ship I could never learn. Hi* age would 
now be about forty-eight or forty-nine; and he promised to be a tail 
handsome man, of rather fair complexion, but with dark eyes^ 



10 MEMOIKS Of JOHN SHIPP. 

the year 1797, while 1 was playing marbles in a lane called 
Love Lane, and was m the very act of having a shot at the 
whole ring with my blood-alley, the shrill notes of a fife, 
and the hollow sound of a distant drum, struck upon my 
active ear. I stopped my shot, bagged my marbles, and 
scampered off to see the soldiers. On arriving at the 
market-place, I found them to be a recruiting-party of the 
Royal Artillery, who had already enlisted several likely- 
looking fellows. The pretty little well-dressed fifer was 
the principal object of my iiotice. His finery and shrill 
music were of themselves sufficient attractions to my 
youthful fancy : but what occupied my thoughts more than 
eitherof these, was the size of this musical warrior, whose 
height very little exreei'ed that of the drum by which he 
stood. '' Surely," thought I to myself, sidling up to him, 
*' I must be myseU as tail, if not taller, than this little 
blade ; and should make as good a soldier!" Reflections 
of this nature were crowding thick into my mind, when 
the portly sergeant, addressing his words to the shaping 
rustics by whom he was surrounded, but directing his eyes 
to the bed-room windows in the vicinity of bis station, 
commenced a right royal speech. I swallowed every 
word spoken by the royal sergeant with as much avidity 
as the drum-major's wife would her morning libation. It 
was all about " gentlemen soldiers" — " merry life" — 
^* muskets rattling'' — " cannons roaring"— " drums beat- 
ing" — "colours flying" — "reginsents charging" — and 
shouts of " victory ! victory !" On hearing these last 
words, the rustic hun pkins who had enlisted exposed their 
flowing locks, and wiih their tattered hats gave three 
cheers to "the King — God bless him." Inlhis I most 
heartily joined, to the no small amusement of the assem- 
bled multitude. *' Victory" seemed still to ring in my earsj 
and the sound inspired my little heart with such enthu- 
siasm, that it was not until some minutes after the rest had 
leil off cheering, that J became conscious, from the merri- 
ment around me, that I still held my tiny hat elevated in 
the air, waiting for a repetition of that spirit-stirring word. 
Finding myself observed, I adjusted my hat with a know- 
ing air, elevated my beardless chin with as much conse- 
quence as I could assume, and, raising myself on tiptoe 



MEMOIRS OF JOHN SHIPF. 31 

to appear as tall as possible, \ strutted up to the sergeantj 
and asked him, in plain words, if he would "■' take [ for a 
sodger ?" The sergeant smiled, and patted my head in so 
Condescending a manner, that I thought I might venture 
to take the same liberty with the head of the dram ; but in 
this I was mistaken, for I had no sooner touched it than I 
received from the drummer a pretty sharp rap on the 
knuckles for my presumption : his drum-head was as sa- 
cred to him as the apple of his eye. I again mounted on 
tiptoe and urged my question, ^^ Will you like I for a sod= 
ger ?" intimating, at the same time, that I was '^ bigger 
than that there chap," pointing to the little lifer. Incensed 
at this indignity, the boy of notes was so nettled, that he 
commenced forthwith to impress on my face and head stri- 
king marks of his irritation in being thus degradingly re- 
ferred to. This I felt that I could have returned with 
compound interest ; but, as my antagonist had the honour 
of wearing his iMajesty's livery, [ deemed it wiser to pocket 
the affront with my marbles, and make the best of my way 
off. I accordingly made a retrograde movement towards 
home, full of the scene I had just witnessed, and vocife- 
rating as I went along, '' left, right," — "' right, left," — = 
" heads up, soldiers," — '* eyes right," — " eyes left," &c. 
In short, I had thus suddenly not only been touched by the 
miUtary, but got the military touch ; and from that day 
forth I could neither say nor do anything, but in what I 
thought a soldier-like style : my play consisted chiefly of 
evolutions and mancEuvres, and my conversation of mili- 
tary phrases. 

Shortly after this adventure, I was sent to live with a 
farmer in the town, whose heart was as cold as the hoar- 
frost which often blighted his fairest prospects. Fortu- 
nately for me, however, his wife was of a different dispo- 
sition. This good dame proved almost a second mother 
to me, and frequently screened me from the effects of my 
master's rage ; but so restless and untoward (to say the 
truth,) were ray inclinations and propensities, and so im- 
perious in his commands, and unrelenting in his anger, 
was my master, that, in spite of my kind mistress's inter- 
cession in my favour, I seldom passed a day without being 
subjected to his cruel lash. This treatment was but little 



12 MEMOIRS OF JOHN SHIPP. 

calculated either to conciliate my affections, or to effect 
a reformation in my conduct. My feelings became hard- 
ened under the lash of oppression ; and my desire to 
leave a place so little congenial with my disposition in- 
creased daily. Meantime, all the cats and dogs in my 
master's house were made to go through military evolu- 
tions ; the hoes and rakes were transformed into muskets, 
and the geese and turkeys into soldiers. Even my 
master's whip, which was always in requisition at the 
conclusion of these performances, could not eradicate my 
propensity for ^^ soldiering." Every time his back was 
turned, my military exercises were resumed ; and, when 
I could not by possibility find time to be thus actively 
engaged, I solaced myself with whistling, God save the 
King — The British Grenadiers^ and See the Conquering 
Hero Comes. The first of these tunes 1 once commenced 
in the church-yard during a funeral service, for which I 
got the sexton's cane over my back ; " that being no 
place," as the said sexton judiciously remarked, " to show 
my loyalty in." Even the old women in the parish could 
not pass me without a military salute, such as — Heads up, 
missis ! Eyes right, missis ! Keep the step., missis ! S^c. 
These pranks often brought me into disgrace and trouble, 
and usually ended with an application of the end of my 
master's whip. 

In the dreary month of December, when the white 
snow danced along the glen, and the icicle sparkled on 
the hoary oak, [ had transported my frozen limbs into a 
turnip-field, close by the Great Yarmouth Road, where I 
stood shrivelled up like a dried mushroom, plotting and 
planning how to escape from the truly wretched situation 
in which I felt myself to be then placed. I had just put 
my cold fingers into my mouth for the purpose of warming 
tliem, and had given them the first puff, when I heard the 
distant sound of martial music. Down went my hands, 
and up went my heels. I made an eschellon movement 
towards the place ; jumped over the gate ; brought up 
my right shoulder a little ; then gave the word forwards 
and marched in double-quick time. The music soon got 
nearer, or, at all events, i soon got so near to the music 
that I was glad to halt. .lust at this moment the whole 



5IEM0IRS OF JOHN SHIPP, iS 

band struck up, Over the Hills and Far Amay^ which 
kindled a flame in my bosom which nothing but death can 
extinguish, though I have now long since had my full 
share of the reahty of the Scotch melody. On coming 
up to the party of soldiers, I gave the colonel a military 
salute, by first slapping my leathers, then bringing up my 
right hand (which, by-the-by, was the wrong hand,) to 
my forehead, and extending the thumb as far as I could 
from my fingers. 1 continued in this position, keeping 
my elbow parallel with the top of my head, until the 
colonel came close up to me, and, remarking how stu 
diously I retained the same position, condescendingly said., 
with a smile, "that's a fine fellow." On this head, I 
perfectly agreed with the gallant commandant, as may be 
readily supposed ; and the compliment so elated me, thai: 
[ felt by no means certain whether i stood on my head or 
my heels, but ran about, first in the front, then in the 
rear, until at last I ran bump up against—" master," who 
presented himself to my astonished eyes, mounted on 
Corporal Dash, (a horse of his I had so named,) with a 
long hunting-whip (a very old friend of mine,) in his 
band. The moment I recognised these oldacquaintances. 
I saw that I had not a minute to lose ; so making up my 
mind that a good retreat was far better than a bad fight^ 
I ran off at full charge, as fast as my legs would carry 
me, my master riding after me, and roaring out mos£ 
lustily, Stop^ stop! If, instead of stop, he had said halt^ 
it is more than probable that my legs would instinctively 
have obeyed ; for, from the constant drills to which they 
had been subjected, they began to move quite mechani- 
cally. As it was, however, on I went, until a stile brought 
my master up, when, as I was quite out of breath, I thought 
I might as well halt too. Uer^ I had the satisfaction of 
hearing my master swear roandly, that he would kill me 
when he caught me. " I'hank God," thought I to myself, 
" you have not got me yet." The moment my persecutor 
rode on, T cut across a field, and again gained the head 
of the corps of Royal Horse Artillery, who were at this 
time just entering the suburbs of the village. Here I 
dared not v^enture to follow them any farther, until my 
master's hurricane had blown over ; so I mounted a gate ^ 
Vol. I.— 2 



14 MEMOIRS OF JOHN SHIPF, 

tvhere my heart yearned after them, as that of a wounded 
soldier does after his corps in the battle's heat. Here I 
again set my wits to work how to elude the chastisement 
I was sure to receive from the infuriated man of clods. 
The regiment which I had seen was, I had ascertained, 
on its march to Yarmouth, to embark for foreign service ; 
and, from the condescending manner of the colonel (who 
returned my salute), I made no doubt whatever that he 
would be glad to take me for a soldier. Full' of these 
thoughts, I loitered about all day, but dared not venture 
in, until, at length, my interior began to express wants 
respecting which I had not before reflected. These de- 
mands were of a nature not to be drilled into obedience : 
so, at last, overcome by fatigue and inanition, in I marched, 
having first seen my master march out. My mistress, 
who was ever ready to act the part of a kind mother 
towards me, soon provided me with a substantial meal. 
I was not long in doing justice to the repast thus kindly 
set before me ; and, having effectually satisfied my appe- 
tite for the present, I took the precaution of lining my 
pockets with a large hunch of bread and cheese, to subsist 
on the following day, when T intended to be in light 
marching order to follow the soldiers. Havmg thus pru- 
dently provided in some degree for the future, I betook 
myself to my usual occupations ; but I had not comm.enced 
work more than five minutes, when I espied my master 
reconnoitreing me from behind a hedge. Presently, he 
crossed a stile, with a large whip in his hand, and I could 
discern, from his artful movements, that it was his inten- 
tion to come upon me unperceived. Now and then, in 
order that my fears might not be excited, he would stoop 
down and pull a turnip ; but I was too good a soldier 
myself to be out-genera\M in this manner. I stood from 
my work, the better to observe the enemy's movements, 
and kept my eye upon the fugleman. At last, I saw him 
make preparations to arrange his whip ; so I immediately 
arranged my legs for a start. " Every step that he now 
takes," thought I to myself, "is a step nearer to my 
back ; whereas, now that 1 have ten yards' start, there is 
still a chance for me." My master perceived that I was 
ready for a bolt, and soon broke from slow time into 



MEMOIKS OF JOHN SHIPP. 15 

quick, and from quick to double-quick, which put me to 
the charge, my master following me,^ — swearing, threat- 
ening, and roaring out, Stop him^ stop Mm! a second 
time. 1 turned round to look who was likely to stop me, 
when my foot came in contact with a large clod, and 1 
tumbled, heels over head. Here the chase ended, for my 
tyrant caught hold of me by a smock Irock which I had 
on, and commenced flogging me ; but, from the race I 
had given him, I found he was so winded that he had not 
strength left to hurt me much; so 1 '-' showed fight" at 
once, by seizing hold of the lash of the whip. This so 
enraged him, that he threw me from him with such violence, 
that one side of the smock-frock and I parted company, 
and 1 had just sufficient time left me to get up again, and 
make my escape, which I did, leaving my master, as a 
token of my unalterable affection, the one side of my 
•upper garment. Let it be his winding-sheet, for he was 
a cruel monster ! 

The remaining half of my smock-frock I stuck in a 
kedge in the same field, as « further token of my regard, 
and as a proof of my anxiety to leave him all I could 
spare. I then made a movement tov/ards the town, in 
the hope that \ should see the colonel, but he was not to 
"be found ; and 1 went from public-house to public-house, 
in search of the soldiers, till night began to don her sombre 
mantle, which was as gloomy as my poor little friendless 
bosom. Go home f dared not ; so, after wandering 
about the farmer's house, 1 at last got into the stable, and 
slept all night in the hay loft, dreaming 1 was a general, 
and riding over the battle's plain. Here I slept as sound 
as a dead soldier, until \ was awoke in the morning by 
the gruff voice of my master, inquiring if they had seen 
anything of me, and protesting that, whenever he caught 
me, he would skin me alive. " Bob," (one of his men,) 
he bellowed out, '' saddle that there old horse, Corporal 
Dash, and I '11 go and see where he is, and, if i catches 
him, I '11 put him in the stocks, and see if that can't cool 
his courage for him. He is the most tarnationest and 
outdationest lad I have ever seen ; it was only the day 
before yesterday, that I catched him riding the old sow, 
Folly, with a pitchfork, and singing owi—Yictory^ victory; 



16 MEMOIRS OF JOHN SHIPP. 

ibut i 'li see if the stocks won't cool him.*' The old cor- 
poral was saddled accordingly, and led out. I could dis- 
tinctly see him through a small hole in the loft, and he 
trotted off towards the market-place. I now began to 
think what place was best and safest for me. Skinning 
alive I could not bear the thoughts of; and, as to the 
stocks, it is true they might have cooled me, for it was 
freezing hard, and as bitter a morning as ever blew fr<»m 
the heavens ; but there was nothing soldier-hke in the 
situation, and the thoughts of such a position were not to 
be endured. 

As soon as Bob had left the place to go to his work, I 
began to form plans for my retreat. Resolved, for the 
present, to act on the defensive, I first reconnoitred the 
course, to see that the enemy was not lying in ambush for 
me, or lurking in the vicinity of my hiding-place. Finding 
all clear, I descended to the stable, and soon gained the 
road. Having passed through the barn-yard and orchard, 
I peeped in at the farm-house, but could not catch a 
glimpse of my kind mistress. My bread and cheese I 
had eaten the preceding evening, and my stomach began 
now to evince symptoms of mutinous commotion ; but 
the fear of falhng again into the hands of my merciless 
enemy prevailed over all other considerations, and, in an 
adjoining field, I regaled myself very contentedly on a 
turnip. I had just concluded this sumptuous repast, and 
was beginning to reflect seriously on the situation in which 
I had placed myself, when the band struck up that beauti- 
ful old melody, The Girl I left behind Me> This was both 
meat and drink to me, and its sweet notes comforted my 
before-inconsolable bowels. I put myself in marching and 
soldier- like attitude ; and with my hands stuck close to my 
leathers ; my fingers directed towards the earth ; thus I 
stepped off" with the left leg, keeping time with the tune, 
until I arrived at the toll-gate, about a quarter of a mile 
from the town. Here I could not help halting, to look 
back on the little place of my birth, the scene of my boy- 
liood and of many a sportive hour. I found the tear 
irickhng down my cheek. It was near the grave of my 
fond mother, too. I hesitated for some time, whether to 
proceed or return ] but my master's dreadful threat rushed 



MEMOmS OF JOHN SHIPr, IT 

upon my mind in all its terror, and this impelled me 
onwards : and I again joined the followers, men and boys, 
girls and dogs. I was but a child, but I was a child cast 
upon the world, parentless, and in the hands of a cruel 
master. 1 could not believe it possible to be worse off", 
and therefore continued my march towards Yarmouth, 
without a mouthful of bread to eat, or a penny in my 
pocket. I knew not a soul in the place to which I was 
going ; but my truant disposition took a hop, step, and 
jump, over all difficulties. 

My worldly effects consisted of a hat, which had once 
been round, but which, from my continually turning and 
twisting it into the shape of cocked -hats, road-hats, 
soldiers' caps, &c. was now any shape you wished ; a 
little fustian jacket ; waiscoat of the same material ; 
a coarse shirt, which, from a violent shaking-tit, was com- 
pletely in rags ; a pair of leathers, intolerably fat and 
greasy ; ribbed v»rorsted stockings ; and a thwacking paiy 
of high-lows, nailed from heel to toe. These, with alittle 
stick, were my only incumbrances, save a gloomy prospect. 
I was bitterly hungry and sadly tired ; but on I went, until 
we arrived within a mile of Beccles, some sixteen miles 
from home. Here some of the soldiers branched off to 
their quarters in the vicinity of the town ; but I followed 
the greater body, as the more probable means of getting 
something to eat. The band now again struck up. Over 
the Hills and Far Away.. I marched at the head, but 
began to find that my poor craving stomach could no 
longer feed upon delicious melody ; so I now made up 
my mind to accost the colonel, and ask him if he could 
not enlist me for a soldier. The colonel seemed a kirid- 
hearted man ; so, as modesty on my part was now quite 
out of the question, I bent my way to the head inn, 
where all the officers were assembled. I inquired for the 
colonel, and was at last shown into a room where he was 
sitting, with other officers, at breakfast. I strutted up to 
him with my hat in my hand, and madehim a most obse- 
quious bow, with my hand and foot at the same tirne. I 
then stood straight, as if 1 had swallowed a segeant's 
pike ; when the colonel laughingly said, '' Well, my fipe 
little rustic, what's your pleasure?" I s^id, makiof 



18 MEMOIRS OP JOHN SHIPP. 

another bow, and scraping the carpet with my nailed hig^^; 
lows, " Soldiering, your honour." At this, the whole oi 
the officers burst into a roar of laughter, in which the 
colonel most heartily joined. I thought it was the fashion 
in the army, so I joined them, which only served to 
increase their mirth, and many of them were obhged to 
hold their sides from excess of laughter. I soon found 
that all this merriment was at my expense, at which I 
began to evince some slight displeasure, and was just 
about to express it in words, when the colonel said, in 
the most affectionate manner, " My dear little child, you 
had better return to your fond mother's lap." Here I 
could not help piping, and I replied, "• Sir, my mother is 
dead." — " Could I even take you," continued the colonel, 
"I should imagine that I was robbing some fond parent of 
its child ; besides, we are proceeding on foreign service, 
against the enemy." This news only served to increase 
my anxiety to go, and I again entreated him to look with 
compassion upon an orphan. I saw him turn from me, 
and wipe away a falling tear ; and then, addressing me 
with the affection of a parent, he said, " My dear httle 
fellow, if I was going to remain in England, I would take 
you; but, under the present circumstances,! cannot.'* 
Here I again began to cry, and I told him that I was six- 
teen miles frpm home, and had not got a piece of bread 
to put in my mouth. Upon this the whole of the officers 
vociferated, — Waiter, waiter, ivaiter! The waiter was 
speedily in attendance, when I was ordered breakfast by 
twenty persons at the same time. I was still resolved not 
to give up my point ; but the colonel again told me it 
would be impossible for him to take me, but assured me 
that I should be taken care of, and desired me to go down 
stairs and get my breakfast. I did so, and, in passing 
round the table for the purpose of retiring, some gave me 
a shilling, some sixpence, so that I had more money than 
I had ever before possessed in my life. I ate a hearty 
breakfast in the kitchen, the servants asking me a number 
<Df impertinent questions. After breakfast. I counted my 
iriches, and found that I had ten shillings, at least, in my 
leathers, into the pockets o^ which 1 every moment intro- 
duced my hand, to keX if all was safe. In the afternoon 



MEMOIRS OF JOHN SHIP?, 10 

I was ordered dinner, and at last placed in the charge of 
a sergeant, who inquired who and what I was. I slept 
with him, and slept most soundly, too, thinking I was a 
soldier. Early the next morning I was awoke, when the 
sergeant showed me a note from the good-natured colonel 
to my master, whose name and address he had pumped 
me out of the evening before. The sergeant was pro» 
ceeding to Woodbridge Barracks, and he had directions 
to take me over to my master, as well as to deliver the 
colonel's note, which was open, and contained a most 
earnest request that, for his sake, my master would not 
flog me. The generous colonel had also given the ser- 
geant five shillings for me, which he gave me before 1 
started from Beccles. About three o'clock in the after- 
noon, I arrived at my master's, who was at home. The 
kind message of the colonel was communicated to him^ 
and he faithfully promised the sergeant that all should be 
forgiven and forgotten. I was lured, under this promise, 
to return to my work, resolved to do better in future ; and 
I began to think that I really had not much reason to com- 
plain : for, on counting my money, 1 found I had fifteen 
shillings and sixpence left, after treating the sergeant on 
the way home. Scarcely, however, had the sun risen on 
the following day, when my master seized me by the neck, 
and dragged my clothes off my back. He had with him a 
double-handed whip, such as is used by the colliers, and 
with this he lashed me so unmercifully, that 1 havi no 
hesitation in saying that, had not a man, who was labouring 
in an adjoining field, interfered, he would have killed me. 
He was the most inhuman man I ever saw ; and, if he was 
not dead, and his family in abject poverty, I should before 
this have published his name ; but, not to add to theu 
present calamities, I will bury such feelings with their 
father, and begin a fresh chapter, with accounts more in- 
teresting to my readers ; first entreating their forgiveness 
for having dwelt so long on the scenes of my boyhood- 



20 MEMOIRS OF JOHN SHIPP. 



CHAPTER 11. 

About this period, 1795, the three experimental re- 
giments* were ordered to be formed, viz. the 22d, 34tb. 
and 65th regiments ; the former at Colchester. 1 was. 
one morning in that year, about the month of January or 
February, busily employed in a field close by my master's 
house, when who should I see but one of the parish offi- 
cers, making towards me, with a large paper in his hand. 
1 began to muster and parade my crimes, but found, on a 
fair review, that 1 had done nothing that merited the inter- 
ference of an officer ; so I stood up boldly till he ap- 
proacned me, and smilingly said, '* Shipp, I have frequently 
heard of and observed your great wish to go for a sol- 
dier." He then read the paragraph, and asked me if I 
was willing to go ; for that, if 1 was, the parish would rig 
me out decently, and that he would lake me to Colchester, 
My little heart was in my mouth ; I repeated his words, 
will I go^ and eagerly assured him of the rapture with 
which 1 accepted his offer. The affiiir was soon con- 
cluded ; so down went my shovel, and off I marched, 
whistling See the Conquering Hero Comes. By four 
o'clock of the same day, to the honour and praise of the 
parish be it spoken, I was rigged out in my new leather 
tights, new coat, new hat, new shoes, new every thing, — 
of which I was not a little proud. 1 begged, as a particu- 
lar favour, that 1 might sport colours in my hat, and even 
this was {>ermitted to my vanity as long as I remained m 
the town. I took an affectionate leave of all my old play- 
fellows and my good mistress ; and even my cruel masteff 

* Tbe object of gcvernm^nt in forming these "experimental regimeBts,'" 
as they were called, was to relieve parishes of boys from the age of teiv 
to sixteen, who were allowed to enlJsi, on the parish paying the expenses 
of their joining the recruiting dep6t at Colchester. Each of these 
i'egia>':nti« was composed of a thousand boys, who made such excellent 
soldier*, i'ha'; it «p;!»ars extraordinary that no such plan was ever again 
adopted , the iiirei regiments here spoken of baring been the oaly corps 
formed ic tl^is way. 



MEMOIBS OF JOHN SIIIPP. 21 

was not neglected by me, for I never had malice or un 
forgiveness in my disposition. The next day, by seven 
o'clock in the morning, I was on my way to Colchester ; 
and, when I was seated on the front seat of the coach, I 
would not have exchanged situations with the Grand 
Pacha of Egypt, or the King upon the throne of that 
land of which I was a native. Scarcely had 1 seated my- 
self, and adjusted my feet in a safe situation, than I in 
dulged my coach companions by whistling several martial 
airs ; but, coming to a well-known turn of the road, 
from which you take the farewell-peep at Saxmundham,— 
as much as I loved my king, I stopped short in the middle 
of the national anthem, — and my eye bent its way instinc- 
tively towards my native village, where I first saw the light 
of heaven, and rested on the little village spire, which 
reared its gothic head over the remains of nw poor mo- 
ther. Towards this painfully interesting object I looked 
and looked, till the place of my nativity was buried from 
my sight by the surrounding trees. When bereft of thig 
view, I felt pensive and sad, and could only console my- 
self by reflecting that 1 did not fly from my parental roof ; 
nor was I deserting aged parents or unprotected sisterSj 
for 1 had no one to bewail my departure. Yet I could 
not help feehng that I left something behind me that hung 
like a magnet to my heart : with all my misfortunes, all 
my cares and troubles, still I could not quit, without a 
pang, the place of my birth, and the tomb of my beloved 
mother. At last, some gentlemen on the coach, having 
heard my history from the person who accompanied me^ 
cheered me up, by saying that they knew the corps I was 
going to, and that they were all lads hke myself. This 
notice from strangers so enlivened me, that I began to 
regard myself as no small personage, and I talked as much 
as any of them, until we arrived at an inn at Colchester,, 
where we dined. Here 1 was marched off to the colonel 
of the corps in which I was to serve ; from the colonel 
to the adjutant ; from the adjutant to the sergeant-major; 
from the sergeant-major to the drum-major ; and thence 
to his wife, an old drunken Irish woman, but as good a 
creature as ever drank whiskey. In the custody of this 
lady the friend who came with me left me^ first giving me 



:^2 MEMOIRS OF JOHN SHIPP. 

a hearty shake of the hand, and wishing me every happi- 
ness. I must confess 1 felt now quite deserted ; about 
twenty boys gathered round me, and 1 soon found that my 
fine leathers were the subject of their ridicule and laughter: 
some of them crying out, '• Bill, twig his leathers 1" — 
"Smoke his new coat!" — ''My eye, what a buck!" — 
'' Some gemman's son, I suppose, ran away from his 
daddy!" — ''Never mind," said another, "we'll soon 
drill his leathers into hot rolls and butter." Here my 
friend Maggy, the Irish Vi oman, interposed her aid in my 
behalf, — " Arrah!" said she, " what are you gating at, 
you set of spalpeens, you ? Be off, you set of thaves, or 
I will be after breaking some of your nasty dirty mugs for 
you. Arrah ! don't mind them ; sur^ they are nothing 
at all but a set of monkeys just catched. Come here, 
lioney, and let me see who will be after laying a finger on 
}'ou." Here she seated me by her side, rubbed my chin, 
patted my back, eyed my coat and breeches, and asked 
STie if I had got any pence in my pocket, with which she 
>should get me some hot rolls and butter, for ta. I gave 
hev a sbilhng, and she brought two rolls and butter. The 
residue I suppose she spent in gin, for she began to give 
me some of her Irish hugs ; so much so, that I wished 
?nyself at a greater distance. One of the boys cried 
out, *' Ask for the change, — ask her for the change, — 
or she will do you." At this imputation, Maggy 
got on her legs, and, seizing a large trencher, tot- 
tered, or rather staggered, towards the boy, and ex- 
claimed, — " You great big blackguard, you, do you want 
to rob me of my name ? Take that, and bad luck to 
you !" Here she hurled the trencher at him, but the 
effort carried old Maggy off her legs, and she exhibited 
lier gigantic figure on the floor, to the amusement of all 
the barrack. I could not not help laughing hearti!3^ 
though I found I had got among a queer set ; when, the 
drum-major entering, and seeing his wife on the floor, vo- 
ciferated,-—" Get up, you olden drunken hag ; or, by St, 
Patrick ! and that's no small oath, but I '11 pay you off." 
Here Maggy made an effort to rise, but the drop had done 
her up ; and I was obliged to give her a helping hand, 
and she was put to bed, clothes and alL 



MEMOIES 01? JOHN SIfIPr> SS 

On the following morning, I was taken to a barber's, 
and deprived of my curly brown locks. My hair curled 
beautifully, but in a minute my poor little head was nearly 
bald, except a small patch behind, which was reserved for 
a future operation. I was then paraded to the tailor's shop, 
and deprived of my new clothes, — coat, leathers, and hat, 
—for which I received in exchange, red jacket, red waist- 
coat, red pantaloons, and red foraging-cap. The change, 
or metamorphosis, was so complete, that I could hardly 
imagine it to be the same dapper little fellow. I was ex- 
ceedingly tall for a boy of ten years of age ; but, not- 
withstanding this, my clothes were much too large : my 
sleeves were two or three inches over my hands, or rather 
longer than my fingers ; and the whole hung on me, to 
use a well-known expression, like a purser's shirt on a 
hand-spike. My pride was humbled— -my spirits drooped j 
— and I followed the drum-major, hanging my head like 
a felon going to the place of execution. I cut such a 
queer :ligure, that all who met me turned round and stared 
at me. At last, I mustered up courage enough to ask 
one httle chap what he was staring at, when he replied,— 
''Ask my eye, Johnny Raw ;" at the same time adding 
his extended fingers and thumb to the length of his nose. 
Passing some drummers on their way to practice, I got 
finely roasted :—" Twig the raw-skin!"-—'' Smoke his 
pantaloons!" — "Them there trousers is what I calls a 
knowing cut I" — " Look at the sign of the Red-man!" 
&/C. &c. Under this kind of file-firing I reached my 
barrack, where I was doomed to undergo the same routine 
of quizzing, till at length 1 got nettled, and told one of 
the boys, if he did not let me alone, I should take , the 
liberty of giving him a good threshing. This "pluck," 
as they termed it, silenced most of my tormentors, and I 
was permitted, for a time, to remain unmolested. In this 
interval, the drum-major went out, having first put my 
leather's, &c. into his box, of which he took the key. f 
sat myself down on the stool, which might not inaptly 
have been styled the stool of repentance ; for here I began 
first to think that soldiering did not possess quite so much 
delight as I had pictured to myself. Still I resolved to 
put a good face on the matter, and so mixed with my com- 



24 mEMOIES OF JOHN SHIPP. 

rades, and in an hour was as free and as much at home 
with them all as if I had knuwn them for years. The 
drift of my new acquaintances, in being thus easily fami- 
liar with me, was soon apparent ; for one of the knowing- 
ones among them called me aside, and asked me if I knew 
where to sell my coloured clothes ; as, if not, he would 
go with me, and show me. I told him that the drum- 
major had them. ''•Yes," replied he, " I know he has ; 
but you see as how he has no business with them. Them 
there traps should be sold, and you get the money they 
brings ; and, if you don't keep your eye on the fugleman, 
he will do you out of half of them." He further said, 
that, when he enlisted, he got more than five shillings for 
his things. 1 replied, that of course the drum-major 
would either sell them for my benefit or permit me to do 
it ; and if the latter, that I should be thankful for his 
kindness. At this moment he entered, when the boy, who 
had just spoken to me, approached him, and said (point- 
ing to me), ^' That there chap says as how he wants to sell 
them things of his in your box, and that I am to go with 
him, to ^how him the place where I sold my things." To 
this fallhood I could not submit, and I therefore went up 
to tbs drum-major, and said, '* Sir, I said nothing of the 
kind ; all I said was, that I supposed you would either 
dispose of the things for my benefit, or allow me to do 
so."--" Yes, yes," said the drum-major, "that's all 
right ; I will sell them for you, and you shall have the 
money." The boy here turned upon his heel, muttering 
something like fudge, and the things were put into a 
handkerchief and carried off into the town. When the 
drum major had left us, the same boy came up to me, 
and called me a liar, stating that he had great mmd to 
thresh me ; and, as a proof of his inchnation, he attempted 
to seize my nose hetween his finger and thumb. I got in 
a rage, and told him, if he ventured to touch me, I would 
fell him to the ground ; when all the boys gathered round 
us, and said, '' Well done, Johnny Raw !" — " Well done, 
old leather-breeches !" — " That 's right, Johnny Wap- 
straw !" Finding that I did not venture to strike the first 
blow, my antagonist called me a coward. This I knew 
I was net ; so, as I could subnfiit to his insolence no 



MEMOIES or JOHN SHIPP. 25 

longer, I struck him, and to it we went in right earnest 
After half a dozen rounds my opponent gave in. ThiSj 
my first victory, established that I was neither a coward 
nor to be hoaxed with impunity. Eulogiums were show- 
ered down upon me, and the shouting and uproar were 
beyond description. I understood afterwards that he was 
a great buily, and always fighting. Our boxing-match 
had just concluded, when the drum- major entered, and 
produced the proceeds of my clothes ; viz. \l. Is. 6d. for 
a new hat, coat, waistcoat, and leathers: a fair price, 
some said ; while others thought they ought to have 
fetched thirty shiUings ; but I was very well satisfied, and 
stood hot rolls and butter to all around, not forgetting my 
antagonist, who shook hands, and said it was the first time 
he had ever been beaten, and that he would some day, 
in friendship, have another trial. I assured him that I 
should be at any time at his service, and thus this matter 
ended. 

After this I went into town, to purchase a few requisites, 
such as a powder-bag, pufi*, soap, candles, grease, &c. ; 
and, having procured what I stood in need of, I returned 
to my barrack, where I underwent the operation of having 
my hair tied for the first time, to the no small amusement 
of all the boys assembled. A large piece of candle- 
grease was apphed, first to the sides of my head, then to 
the hind long Imir ; after this, the same kind of operation 
was performed with nasty stinking soap ; sometimes the 
man v./ho was dressing me applying his knuckles instead 
of the soap, to the delight of the surrounding boys, who 
were bursting their sides with laughter to see the tears 
roll down my cheeks. When this operation was over, I 
had to go through one of a more serious nature. A 
large pad, or bag filled with sand, was poked into the 
back of my head, round v;hich the hair was gathered tight, 
and the whole tied round with a leather thong. When I 
was dressed for parade, I could scarcely get my eyelids to 
perform their office ; the skin of my eyes and face were 
drawn so tight by the plug that was stuck in the back of 
my head, that I could not possibly shut ray eyes ; add to 
this, an enormous high stock was poked under my chin, 
so that, altogether, I Mi as stiff as if I had swallowed a 

Vol. 1.-^3 



26 MKMOIRS OF JOHN SHlPP. 

ramrod, or a sergeant's halberd. Shortly after I was thufg 
equipped, dinner was served ; but my poor jaws refused 
to act on the offensive, and when I made an attempt to 
eat, my pad behind went up and down like a sledge hammer. 
In the evening I went to parade, and was inspected by 
the colonel, who said I was a promising lad, but that my 
clothes did not fit, which he ordered to be altered. At 
this moment the master of the band came up to the colo- 
nel, and said he should like to have me in the band, to 
learn the flute and to beat the triangles. This request was 
granted, and I was the following day removed to the band- 
room, and commenced my musical avocations, and in six 
months I had beaten the sides of the triangles nearly as 
thin as my own, and had also become a tolerable flute- 
flayer ; but, as at that time we got several volunteers from 
the mihtia, among whom were two excellent flute-players, 
I was removed back to the drummer's room, and put to 
the fife. In a short time I was made fife-major ; no small 
office, I assure you. I wore two stripes and a tremendous 
long sash, which almost touched the ground. As the 
reader may suppose, I was not a little proud of my new 
office ; I began to ride the high horse among my old com- 
rades, and to show my authority by enforcing obedience 
by very powerful arguments, for 1 was permitted to carry 
a small cane, and to use it too. In the absence of the 
drum-major, which was frequent, 1 carried the silver- 
headed stick, some seven feet long, and when we fur- 
nished the band for general guard-mounting, I astonished 
the spectators with my double demi-semi twist of my cane, 
and began to think myself one of the brightest of the 
bright. At this period the regiment moved to the Hythe. 
about a mile from Colchester, and twice a day we beat 
through the streets, followed by all the girls and boys in 
the town, some of the rosy-cheeked beauties begging me 
to play favourite tunes of theirs. These entreaties for par- 
ticular airs were urged with such pathos, accompanied with 
such fascinating smiles and leers, that the fife-major occa- 
sionally vouchsafed to comply, always, however, keeping 
up his dignity, by making a compliance with such requests 
appear a great condescension. I strutted about the town 
with my little cane under my arm, like some great man of 



MEMOIRS OF JOHN SHIPP. 27 

eminent consequence, whom the community could not do 
without ; became a great favourite with all my officers ; 
was happy and contented ; and time passe<l imperceptibly 
and very pleasantly away. Meantime, 1 grew very tall, 
though somewhat slender ; and my red coat had been 
thrown off, for which was substituted a splendid white sil- 
yer-laced jacket, with two small silver epaulettes, which 
my swagger induced to fan the evening breeze. 

My days were now comparatively cloudless ; yet still 
mv youthful tricks had not entirely left me. Some of 
these frequently led me into scrapes and unpleasant pre- 
dicaments. The following were among the frolics with 
which I at this time diverted myself: viz. filling the pipes 
of my comrades with gunpowder ; putting a lighted can- 
dle in their hands while asleep, then tickling their noses 
with a straw ; tying their great toes tooether, then crying 
out fire ; blacking their hands with soot, then tickling their 
ears and noses, to induce them to scratch themselves, and 
thus to black their faces all over; putting lighted paper 
between their toes v/hen asleep ; pulling the stools from 
behind them when in the act of sitting down ; sewing their 
shirts to their bedding when asleep : all these, with fifty 
more, I regret to say, were in those days mv constant de- 
light and practice. These mischievous pranks led me into 
many a fight, but that did not discourage me. 1 had a nat- 
ural propensity to tease people, and, as 1 did not scruple 
to indulge it, you may be sure I did not escape without my 
share of tricks m return. He who plays at fives, says the 
old proverb, must expect rubbers ; and accordingly, one 
day, when 1 was sitting up stairs, a hundred voices bawled 
out, — " Pass the word for the fife-ma}f)r ; the adjutant 
wants him." 1 bounced down in an instant, and soon found 
that the whole barrack were in a roar of laughter at my 
expense, for to the tail of my coat was attached a large 
sheet of paper with the.f e words in legible characters,-7- 
The Biter Bit. To have evinced any displeasure at this 
hoax, vi^ould only have served to render me more ridicu- 
lous, and to increase the hooting and laughter at my 
expense ; so I joined in the laugh, and affected to think it 
a remarkable good joke. 

About this period a circumstance happened which, in 
^me degree, blighted my pride, and almost cooled my 



28 MEMOIRS OF JOHN SHIPF. 

military zeal. It was nutting season ; I made a party to 
go, and we arrived at the wood, where the filberts hung as 
thick as laurels on a soldier's brow. We had not bagged 
more than a bushel, when we were pounced upon by three 
keepers, and taken prisoners to the barracks. The three 
boys who were my companions on this excursion got two 
dozen stripes ; I lost my tivo as fife-major, and was turned 
43ack to my original post as drummer, or ralher as fifer. 
This severe punishment did not arise from the enormity of 
purloining the nuts, but from the fact of our being found 
some four miles from the cantonment. Under these cir- 
cumstances we might have been taken up as deserters, 
and the keepers have received two pounds each man ; so 
that, upon the whole, we had reason to be grateful that 
the more serious oflence was not urged against us. 

Shortly after this unfortunate occurrence, the regiment 
was ordered to proceed to the barracks at Helsea, Ports- 
mouth. This was soldiering in clover ; and good living, 
fresh scenes, faces, and events, conspired to make me, in 
a measure, forget the stripes which i had lost. 1 was not 
long on the march before I became as knowing as the best 
of them, and was soon well versed in the tncks of the 
road. I found that it v/as the practice of some of the 
landlords to give us fat pea-soup, and of others to regale 
us with greasy suet dumphngs, as heavy as lead, by way 
of taking off the edge of our appetjtes. These dishes I 
invariably avoided, stating that they *were injurious to my 
constitution, or that the doctors had forbidden me to eat 
such food. I therefore waited for the more substantia! 
fare, — the roast and the boiled, — which I attacked with such 
zest as could not fail to convince the landlord of the deli- 
cacy of my constitution, and of the absolute necessity of 
my refraining from less substantial diet. In two hours 
after dinner the duflf and peasoup eaters were as hungry 
as ever ; but I kept my own counsel, and thus was enabled 
to go on my way with a smiling countenance, that indi- 
cated good and substantial fare. 

When we were treated in the scurvy way [ have spoken 
of, by the landlords on our line of march, we never failed 
to leave some token of our displeasure behind us. Thus, 
one day at Chelmsford, we were compelled to submit to 



MEMOIRS OF JOHN SlIIPP, 29 

dreadful bad quarters, and even the extreme delicacy of 
ray constitution (which had so often succeeded with me 
before) could not, on this occasion, induce our host to give 
us any thing but greasy puddings and fat stews, made of 
the offal of his house for the last month. The fat on the 
top of this heterogeneous mixture was an inch thick ; and 
I, for my own part, protested that I could not and would 
not eat it. Finding me so positive, he privately slipped a 
shilling into my hand to quiet me, which I did not think it 
expedient to refuse. This bribe tended, in some degree, 
to pacify me ; but my comrades, on quitting the house, 
evinced tlieir disapprobation of the treatment they had 
met with, by writmg with a lighted candle on the ceiling, 

D- d bad quarters. 

HoiD are you off for Ilea- soup ? 

Lead dumplings. 

Lousy hpAls- 

Dirty sheets. 
This was the mildest description of punishment with 
which we visited landlords who incurred our displeasure ; 
for, in addition to this, it did not require any very aggra- 
vated treatment to induce us to teach some of mine host's 
ducks and geese to march part of the way on the road 
with us : to wit, until we could get them dressed. 

These birds would sometimes find their way into drums. 
I was once myself a party concerned in a pilfering of this 
kind ; at least, indirectly so : for I was accessory to the 
act of stealing a fine goose — a witness of its death (or 
rather what we supposed its death) — and an assistant in 
drumming it. Moreover, I do not doubt that I should have 
vv'illingly lent a hand towards eating it, also. The goose- 
however, was, in our opinion at least, very snugly secured, 
and we commenced our march without the least fear of 
detection, chuckling in our sleeves how completely we 
had eluded the landlord's vigilance. The bird only wanted 
dressing to complete the joke, and discussion was runniog 
high am©ng us as to how that could be accomplished, 
when, to our astonishment, who should pass us on horse- 
back but the landlord himself? He rode very coolly by, 
and, as he took no sort of notice of us, we concluded that 
he might, very probably, have other business on the road. 
3* 



30 MEMOIRS OF JOHN 3HIPF. 

and for a time we thought nothing more of the matter ; 
but what were our feehngs when, on halting in the market- 
place, we perceived this very landlord in earnest conversa- 
tion with our colonel ; and, to all appearance " laying 
down the law," as it is called, in a most strenuous man- 
ner. At last the colonel and he moved towards us ; on 
perceiving which my knees broke into double-quick tinie 
and my heart into a full gallop. On arriving near to the 
spot where our guilty party was drawn up, the Colonel, 
addressing us, stated, that "•' the gentleman who stood by 
his side, complained that he had lost one of his geese, and 
had informed him he had good reason to suspect that some 
of the party to whom he now spoke had stolen it." For 
the satisfaction of '' the gentleman " (whom we, one and 
all, most heartily wished under ground) our knapsacks 
were ordered to be examined, and underwent the most 
scrupulous mspection ; but no goose was to be found. 
Professing his regret for the trouble he had caused, and 
apparently satisfied that his suspicions were ill-founded; 
our worthy landlord was just on the point of leaving us, 
and the boys around were grinning with delight at the no^ 
tion of having so effectually deceived him, when, to our 
utter confusion and dismay, the goose, at this very junc- 
ture, gave a deep groan, and the landlord protested roundly 
that '-'• that there sound was from his goose." Upon this 
the investigation was renewed with redoubled ardour ; 
our great coats were turned inside out, and, in short, 
almost every thing belonging to us was examined with the 
minutest attention ; but still no goose was to be found. 
The officers could not refrain from smiling, and the boys 
began again to grin at the fun ; but this merriment was 
doomed to be but of short duration, for the poor goose> 
now in its last moments, uttered another groan, more loud 
and mournful than the former one. In fact the vital spark 
had just taken its flight, and this might be construed into 
the last dying speech of the ill-fated bird, and a full con- 
fession of its dreadful situation and murder. The drum 
in which the now defunct goose was confined, stood close 
against the landlord's elbow, and his ear was, unfortu^ 
nately for us, so correct in ascertaining whence the sound 
of wo proceeded, that he at once roared out, *' Dang my 



MEMOIRS OF JOHN SHIPP. 31 

buttons, if my goose bean't in that there dfuml'^ These 
words were daggers to our souls ; we made sure of as 
many stripes on our backs as there were feathers on the 
goose's ; and our merriment was suddenly changed into 
mortification and despair. The drum-head was ordered 
to be taken off, and sure enough there lay poor goosy, as 
dead as a herring. The moment the landlord perceived 
it, he protested that, " as he was a sinner, that was his 
goose." This assertion there was no one among us hardy 
enough to deny ; and the colonel desired that the goose 
should be given up to the publican, assuring him, at the 
same time, that he should cause the offenders to be severely 
punished for the theft which had been committed. For- 
tunately for our poor backs, we now found a truly humane 
and kind-hearted man in the landlord whom we had of- 
fended ; for no sooner did he find that affairs were taking 
a more serious turn than he had contemplated, and that it 
was likely that he should be the cause of getting a child 
flogged, than he affected to doubt the identity of the goose, 
and, at length, utterly disclaimed it, saying to the colonel, 
•' This is none of mine, sir ; I see it has a black spot on 
the back, whereas mine was pure white ; besides, it has a 
black head : [ wish you a good morning, sir, and am very 
sorry for the trouble I have given you." Thus saying, 
he left us, muttering, as he went along, " Get a child 
flogged for a tarnation old goose ? no, no !" Every step 
he took carried a ton weight off our hearts Notwith- 
standing this generous conduct in the publican, who was 
also, by his own acknowledgment, a sinner, our colonel saw 
very clearly how matters stood ; but, in consideration of 
our youth, and that this was our first offence (at least that 
had been discovered)^ he contented himself with severely 
admonishmg us ; and the business ended shortly after with 
the demolition of the goose — roasted. 

We remained at Helsea Barracks for nearly a year, 
where we acquired the appellation of the Red Knights. 
from our clothing being all of that colour. I do not 
recollect any thing of importance that occurred to me at 
that place, except that I was condemned to pass a week 
in the black-hole there, for what the soldiers called " eat- 
ing my shoes." This punishment I brought upon myself 



32 MEMOIKS OF JOHN SHIPP. 

in the following manner. I had been out to receive my 
half-mounting, consisting of a pair of shoes, a shirt, two 
pair of stockings, and a stock ; and, on my way home, 
as ill luck would have it, an old woman, with whom I 
had frequently before had deahngs, and who was v.ell 
known among us by the title of the plum-pudding woman, 
happened to throw herself in my way. Her pudding was 
smoking hot ; I was exceedingly hungry ; and my mouth 
watered so at the tempting sight, that I could not drag 
myself away. But, much as 1 longed for a slice, what 
was to be done ? I had no money, and my friend the 
plum-pudding woman was by far too old a soldier to give 
trust till pay-day. The pudding, however, it was impos- 
sible for me to dispense with ; and finding, therefore, 
that all my promises and entreaties, with the view of ob- 
taining credit, were fruitless, I at length, in an evil hour, 
incited by the savoury smell which issued from the old 
woman's basket, proposed to her to buy my shoes. After 
a good deal of bargaining, we at length came to an 
understanding, by which it was agreed, that in considera- 
tion of a quarter of a yard of pudding and a shilling, to 
be to me paid and delivered, my new shoes were to be 
handed over to the dealer in plum-pudding, as her own 
proper goods and chattels. This contract being honour- 
ably completed on both sides, I retreated to a solitary 
shed to eat my dnff^ (the name by which this description 
of pudding was well known among us,) where, without 
any great exertion, I soon brought the two extremities of 
my quarter of a yard together. The last mouthful put 
me to the extremity of my wits to devise how I could 
possibly account for the sudden disappearance of my 
shoes. My first impulse was to run in search of the old 
woman, and endeavour, by fair promises, to coax her out 
of the shoes again ; but I soon found that no such chance 
was left me, for she had made a precipitate retreat from 
the place where we had transacted our business together, 
knowing well that she was punishable for having bought 
such articles of me. Nothing appeared to be now left 
for me but a palpable falsehood ; and although of this I 
had a great abhorrence, yet I really had not sufficient 
courage to think of avowing the literal truth. At length. 



MElttOIRS OF JOHN SHIPP. 3S 

I thought I had hit upon a sort of compromise, and I de- 
termined to say that T had " dropped" my shoes on my 
way home, which, though not exactly the fact, yet ap- 
proached nearer to the truth than any thing else I ceuld 
devise, likely to serve my end. As on all other occasions 
of the kind, however, it appeared that I might just as well 
have made a full confession at once ; for my statement 
was not believed, and as I could not in any other way 
account satisfactorily for the elopement of my shoes, I 
was ordered seven days' black-hole for the purpose of 
refreshing my memory. Against this punishment I prayed 
long and loudly, but all to no purpose ; so, with the 
remainder of my day's rations under my arm, off I was 
marched, not much elated with the dreary prospect before 
me. When I heard the door of the cell creak upon its 
hinges behind me, and the huge key grate in the lock, I 
began to think that I had parted with ray shoes too cheap, 
and, for some time after, I sat myself down in a corner, 
and brooded in melancholy mood over the misfortune 
which I had by my own foily, brought upon myself. But 
I was never one of the desponding kind, and if therefore 
soon occurred to me, that, instead of indulging in dismal 
reflections, it would be far wiser, and more pleasant, to 
devise some means by which I might contrive to amuse 
myself during the period of my confinement. Seven days 
and seven nights appeared to me at first to be a long 
time to remain encaged in darkness ; and yet there was 
certainly something aoldier-like in the situation. The 
mere fact of being a prisoner had a military sound with it. 
To be sure, I was imprisoned for having eaten my shoes ; 
but what of that ? — Was it not quite as easy for me to 
imagine myself a prisoner of war ? Certainly it was ; 
and accordingly, with this impression strong on my mind, 
I dropped into a profound sleep in the midst of my medi- 
tations, and dreamed that I was deposited in this dungeon 
by the chance of war. On waking, I found myself ex- 
tremely cold, from which I inferred that it would be 
necessary for me to contrive some plan by which I might 
comfort my body as well as my mind ; and 1 therefore 
immediately set about standing on my head, walking on 
my hands, tumbling head over heels, and similar gym» 



34 MEMOIRS OF JOHN SHIPP. 

nastic exercises. In this manner, sleeping and playing 
by turns, I managed to pass my time in the black-hole 
for one whole day and night, by no means unpleasantly ; 
when, about nine o'clock the next morning, I heard the 
well-known voice of the drum-major asking for me, and 
desiring that I might be liberated. On hearing this order 
given, I presumed that, of course, my period of captivity 
had expired; and, although the time certainly appeared 
to have passed off at a wonderfully rapid rate, yet I 
accounted for it by considering that I had slept away the 
greater part of it ; and, in addition to this, that it was but 
natural it should seem to have passed quickly, since I 
had been, during the whole period, exempt from parades, 
drills, head soaping, &c. When I first got into the day- 
light, I could scarcely open my eyes, and no sooner had 
I brought my optics into a state to endure the light, than 
I was asked by the drum-major how I liked my new 
abode, and if 1 was ready to return to it. I perceived, 
from the smile which accompanied these questions, that 
I had little further to fear, and I soon understood that I 
had only spent one day and one night in the black- hole, 
and that the remainder of my sentence had been remitted. 
I was hailed by all my comrades as if I had been cast on, 
and escaped from, some desolate island ; and, having 
macadamized my inward man with six-penny pies, (out 
of the shilling I had received from the old pudding- woman, 
of which I was still possessed.) I was soon fit for fun 
again as the best of them. 

But, the regiment being now about to embark for 
Guernsey, I will commence our voyage in a new chapter. 



3IEM0IRS OF JOim SHUT. 



CHAPTER in. 



We had received orders to hold ourselves in readiness 
lo embark — as I then imagined, for foreign parts, — and 
the idea made my heart bound for joy. In a few days we 
embarked on board a small sloop, at about four o'clock 
in the afternoon, and in an hour after got under weigh. 
When the sun had retired to his western chamber, the sky 
looked gloomy and indicated wind ; and, in another hour, 
there arose so terrific a gale, that we were obliged to put 
the tarpaulins over the hatches, to protect us against the 
large seas which broke over us. The scene was enough 
to frighten a person of greater courage than 1 possessed. 
There were soldiers crying — women screaming — children 
squalling — sailors swearing — the storm all the while con- 
tinuing to increase, until at length it blew a perfect hurri- 
cane ; the rain came down in torrents, and the vivid light- 
ning's flash exhibited the fear depicted on every counte- 
nance. At this juncture a poor frightened soldier mustered 
up courage enough to ask the captain or master of the 
sloop, if there was any danger. At this question every 
ear was open, and the son of Neptune gruffly replied, — 
" Danger, shipmate ? If the storm continues another hour, 
I would not give a rope-yarn for all your lives. When 
we reach that point on the larboard-bow, you must throw 
out your grappling-irons, and hold in, for she will then be 
close-hauled, and go under water hke a duck, and you will 
all be in David's locker before you can say luff^ boy!'''' 
Then, addressing himself to one of his men, " Steady, 
Tom, steady; don't let her go off; don't you see the 
light a-head ; run it down. Steady, boy, steady ! luff' 
a little, luff!" At this moment an awful sea broke over 
us. My mouth was full, and I was wet to the skin ; 
but, strange to say, I felt no alarm. Our little vessel 
dived like the gull after its prey. As soon as she right- 
ed, I said, " Captain, that was a wetter." He replied, 
'• Ay, boy ; you will get plenty of them before we make 



36 MEMOIRS OF JOHN SHIPF. 

t\LQ pQrt."— " Very consoling, truiy," thought I to my«> 
self. 1 had just squeezed mysr up into a small coin= 
pass, head and knees together, closfr- to the helm, when we 
shipped another tremendous sea, which carried away our 
fore-staysail, and made so terrific and dreadful a flappings 
that an officer bellowed out from below, *' Is there any- 
thing the matter ?" — " Yes," replied the captain, " the 
devil to pay, and no pitch hot."* These words were 
scarcely spoken, when we shipped another awful sea» 
which washed three soldiers overboard. At this crisis, a 
sailor bellowed out, "Light a-head, sir." — "The devil 
there is ; what does it look like?" roared the captain. — 
"Like a light," replied the sailor. — "A Frenchman, I 
suppose," vociferated the captain. These words caught 
the ear of the military captain on board, who hollowed 
out from below, " What did you say about a Frenchman ?" 
— 'i Why, that, if it gets clear, we may have a bit of a 
fight; for I see there is a Frenchman a-head," replied 
the sea captain. — '' Then," said the soldier, " I had better 
get my men ready. Sergeant, get the bugler I Sound to 
arms ! Call the drummer ; and tell him to beat to arms !'- 
But the devil a drummer, drum, bugler, or bugle was 
forthcoming. All the men were busily engaged below, 
and by no means in a condition to come to the scratch, 
French or no French. Notwithstanding this, the noble 
soldier strutted about on deck by himself, with a cocked- 
hat, and sword in hand, when a merciless sea washed off 
his gay hat, and the gallant captain lost his balance, and 
fell into the hold, bawHng out most lustily for his three- 
cornered scraper, which was buffeting the raging billows. 
" I say, captain, have the goodness to send down my hat. 
Is my hat upon deck ? Have you seen my hat ?" — " Your 
hat, sir," replied the son of Neptune, with infinite sang- 
froid^ '' has got under sail, and 1 should not be surprised 

* A common expression among sailors, when any confusion or per- 
plexity prevails on board ship. In Lemon's Dictionary^ 1783, it is at- 
tempted to be explained in the following manner: — ^* Pay the ship^s 
Hdes, [pix, pitch ; strangely debased by the French into poix, and then 
pronounced as if it was written pay] ; that is, to pitch the vessel's sides. 
Hence is derived that common expression among sailors, * ^Terfi '* the 
devil to pay, and no pitch hot ;' meaning, ' Here 's the black gentlem'a,n 
(iome to pitch the vessel's sides {i, e. come to help us), and you have 
not so much as made the pitch-kettle hot enough to employ him" ' 



MSMOIRS or JOHN SHIPF. 87 

if it made port before you." Here he changed the sub^ 
ject, by hailing the man on the fore-castle : " Tom, where 
is the strange sail ?" — '' Sheered off to leeward ; but she 
is a Frenchman, by the cut of her jib,'' replied a sailor. 
'' Steady," said our naval commander, and on we went ; 
but by no means steadily, for I never saw a little bark 
more unsteady, though she really seemed to dive through 
the water like a duck. Morning now began to dawn\ 
which only threw light (as even the captain confessed), 
upon the heaviest sea he had ever seen. The black 
clouds seemed to fly, and the thunder and lightning to 
rend the very atmosphere asunder. Our distant haven 
was in sight ; but the wind was foul, and it was therefore 
impossible to avoid making several tacks before we could 
get in. Our poor fellows, what from fear, cold, hunger., 
want of sleep, and being wet through, were completely 
worn out. I kept my station the whole night, more from 
fear than from any attachment to it ; although I certainly 
did not feel the great alarm that was so visibly depicted 
on the countenances of most of my comrades. From 
extreme cold, and being quite wet through, I cut bnt a 
sorry figure by the time we began to near the land. The 
prospect, from about three or four miles off, was ex- 
tremely beautiful. Some little cottages studded the high 
and lofty rocks, and, here and there, small bays and little 
villages enlivened the scene, and consoled us with the 
idea that we were not going to be landed on a barren rock. 
We soon after saw the extensive town of Guernsey. Part 
of it seemed banging on an eminence, and the view of the 
old castle, which is buiit of stone, and calculated to buffet 
with many a wintry storm, was extremely picturesque. 
In the distance we could see Fort George ; and, in ten 
minutes after, we ran into the bay, which, being sheltered 
and protected by surrounding high-lands, was tranquil 
indeed, when compared with the main ocean. Boats 
were in attendance, and we soon set our wet limbs ou 
terra firma. Having landed, I could not help viewing my 
person, of which I at all times had a good opinion. I- 
iooked for all the world like a squeezed lemon, or the bag 
of a Scotch pipe ; and I should have been glad to have 
taken the edge off my appetite, and the dirt off my clothes, 
Vol. 1.-4 



38 MEMOIRS OF JOHN SHIPP. 

instead of dancing through the town ; but I was, of course, 
obliged to obey orders, and when I struck up my tune (for 
I still led the fifers), I tipped Monsieur The Downfal of 
Paris. I found the march did me a great deal of good ; 
and, by the time I reached the barracks, I was in prime 
order for my breakfast. 

We were stationed in Fort George, in exceedingly good 
quarters, though I could not bring myself to be reconciled 
to the ponderous draw-bridges in use there, which fore- 
boded no great stretch of liberty. I was particularly fond 
of rural and pensive wanderings, to muse on nature's beaii- 
ties, and the sight of an orchard, in particular, was at all 
times hailed by me with great delight ; for I could feast 
upon its beauties for hours together, to the gratification 
of more faculties than my vision. The draw-bridges 
seemed to cut off these delightful prospects. It was 
true, I could see them from the fort, but then the pros- 
pect was too far, and I lost all relish in the distance ; and, 
being in consequence compelled to steal out, I was ap- 
prehensive that some of my solitary rambles would get 
me into disgrace. My doubts and forebodings on this 
head were soon verified ; for, in less than a week, I saw 
my name posted up at the gate, — '' John Shipp confined 
to his barracks for one week.^* A week was to me an 
age. Confinement was intolerable : deprived of the pure 
air, of the delightful ramble along an orchard's hedge, and 
of the salubrious smell of the orange groves. Oft have 
I, from the rampart-top, sighed at the distant prospect, 
and, while my longing eye lingered on the golden produce 
of the orchard within sight, my heart panted to be at 
liberty, to take a nearer view and taste again of nature's 
beauties. The word confinement haunted me from one 
bastion to another, and I saw no refuge for the future but 
a more circumspect line of conduct, on which I firmly re- 
solved. When three long days of my week had been num- 
bered with the dead, the drum-major was taken seriously 
ill, and on the morning parade the colonel inspected the 
drummers. I was always remarkably clean, — that was 
my pride : the colonel eye'd me from head to foot, and at 
last told the adjutant that I was to act as drum-major. I 
was nearly shouting liberty in the colonel's face," but I 
checked myself just in time. He at the same time gave 



MEMOIRS OF JOHN SHIPP. 39 

me a ticket for a play, which was to be acted in the town, 
and in the evening, several boys were committed to my 
care to accompany me to the theatre. Thus, for a brief 
interval, I was restored to favour ; but, whenever fickle 
fortune deigned to smile upon me, some untoward circum- 
stance was sure to happen, and nip the fair promise in its 
bud. I had scarcely got the stick of office into my hands, 
before I cut so many capers with it, that I soon capered 
myself back to the dignity and full rank of fifer ; was de- 
prived of my staff of office ; and, of what I considered 
even much worse^my liberty. My name was again ex- 
hibited to public gaze at the drawbridge-gate, for seven 
long days, during which I was obhged to kick my heels 
along the ramparts, contenting myself with contemplating 
the distant prospect. One day I effaced my name from 
the list of the confined, unobserved by the sentinel ; but 
in this I was detected by the sergeant, for which I had the 
felicity of attending drill three times a day with my musket 
reversed, and my coat turned inside out ; and, in this man- 
ner, for several hours each day, T was obliged to comply 
with the mandates of a little bandy-legged drill-sergeant, 
who did not fail to enforce his authority and dignity in a 
manner by no means agreeable to my feelings, especially 
to those of my back. This I could bear well enough ; 
indeed I was obhged to bear it ; but my turned coat 
seemed to hang upon me like some badge of ignominy, 
and I imagined that every eye was upon me. Had I been 
a depraved and callous-hearted youth, this method of dis- 
gracing me would have only served to harden me in vice ; 
and I cannot deny that at this treatment I felt the seeds of 
disobedience rankling in my heart, and had almost re- 
solved within my mind, that the next time I was doomed 
to wear this garb of infamy, it should be for a crime wor- 
thy of such disgrace. I found my disposition soured, and 
the spark of revenge kindling in my bosom ; and 1 am 
persuaded that this method of disgracing youth, instead 
of eradicating vice, serves only to nurture those rancorous 
feelings which irritation, arising from a sense of degrada- 
tion, is sure to excite, and which, in the young mind, 
might, by a more judicious and conciliatory treatment, be 



40 MEMOIRS OP JOHN SHIPP. 

either totally repressed in their birth, or at least easi?y 
extinguished. 

Our regiment being now ordered to prepare tor embark- 
ation for Portsmouth, my garb of disgrace was thrown 
off, and f embarked as sprightly as any, having been dis- 
graced in this way for a misdemeanor that would scafcely 
have disgraced a school-boy. We reached our old bar- 
racks at Portsmouth, without any other occurrence save a 
little casting-up of accounts, and a few distorted face^ 
from sea-sickness. 



CHAPTER IV. 

We had not been long at Portsmouth, when the head' 
quarters of the regiment were ordered to embark on board 
of the Surat Castle, East Indiaman, a fifteen-hundred-ton 
ship, then lying off Spithead, and the remainder of the 
corps on board of other ships at the same place. Our 
destination was the Cape of Good Hope. The Surat 
Castle, in which I was doomed to sail, was most dreadfully 
crowded ; men literally slept upon one another, and in 
the olorp deck the standing beds were three tiers high, 
besides those slinging. Added to this, the seeds of a pesti- 
lential disease had already been sown. An immense 
number of Lascars, who had been picked up in evesy sink 
of poverty, and most of whom had been living in England 
in a state of the most abject want and wretchedness, had 
been shipped on board this vessel. Many of these poor 
creatures had been deprived of their toes and fingers by 
the inclemency of the winter, and others had accumulated 
diseases from filth, many of them having subsisted for a 
considerable time upon what they picked up in the streets. 
The pestilential smell between decks was beyond the 
power of description ; and it was truly appalling to see 
these poor wretches, with- tremendous and frighttul sores, 
and covered vvith vermin from head to foot, many of them 
unable to assist themselves, left to die unaided, unfriended^ 
and without one who could perform the last sad office. 



MEMOIRS OP JOHN SHIPP. 41 

The moment the breath was out of their bodies, they 
were, like dogs, thrown overboard, as food for sharks. 
To alleviate their sufferings by personal aid was impossi- 
ble, for we had scarcely men enough to work the ship. 
These circumstances were, I suppose, reported to the 
proper authority ; but, whether this was the case or not, 
in three or four days we weighed anchor, with about sixty 
other ships for all parts of the world. The splendid sight 
but little accorded with the aching hearts, lacerated bodies, 
and wounded minds of the poor creatures below. It was 
about four o'clock in the afternoon when the signal was 
fired to weigh. Immediately every sail was wavering in 
the wind, and in a quarter of an hour after we stood out 
from land, each proud bark dipping her majestic head in 
the silvery deep, and manoeuvreing her sails in seeming 
competition to catch the favouring breeze. 

Such firing, such signals, such tacking and running 
across each other now prevailed, that our captain resolved 
to run from it ; and the evening had scarcely spread her 
sombre curtains over the western ocean, and the golden 
clouds begun to change their brilliant robes of day for 
those of murky night, when our crew " up helm," 
and stole away from the motley fleet, plying every sail, 
and scudding through the blue waters like some aerial car 
or phantom-ship, smoothly gliding over the silvery deep. 
In three or four hours we had entirely lost sight of our 
convoy. We were runnmg at the rate of eleven knots 
an hour, and, as it seemed, into the very jaws of danger. 
The clouds began to assume a pitchy and awful darkness, 
the distant thunder rolled angrily, and the vivid lightning's 
flash struck each watching eye dim, and, for a moment, 
hid the rolling and gigantic wave from the sight of fear. 
The wind whistled terrifically, and the shattered sails 
fanned the flying clouds. All was consternation ; every 
eye betrayed fear. Sail was taken in, masts lowered and 
yards stayed — preparations which bespoke np good 
tidings to the inquiring and terrified landsman. I was 
seated in the poop, alone, holding by a hen-coop, and 
viewing the mountainous and angry billows, with my hand 
partly covering my eyes to protect them against the light- 
ning. It was a moment of the most poignant sorrow to 
4* 



12 STEMOIRS OF JOHTJf SHIPP. 

me J my heart still lingered on the white cliffs of Albion., 
nor could I wean it from the sorrowful reflection that I 
was, perhaps, leaving: that dear and beloved country for 
ever. During this struggle of my feehngs, our vessel 
shipped a tremendous sea over her poop, and then angrily 
shook her head, and seemed resolved to buffet the raging 
elements with all her might and main. The ship was 
shortly after this *' hove to," and lay comparatively quiet ; 
and, in about a couple of hours, the wind slackened, and 
we again stood on our way, the masts cracking under her 
three topsails and fore storm-staysail. However, she rode 
much easier, and the storm still continued to abate. I 
was dreadfully wet and cold, and my teeth chattered most 
wofully ; so I made towards the gun-deck, some portion 
of which was allotted for the soldiers. There the heat 
was suffocating, and the stench intolerable. The scene 
in the olorp-deck was truly distressing: soldiers, their 
wives and children, all lying together in a state of the 
most dreadful sea-sickness, groaning in concert, and call- 
ing for a drop of water to cool their parched tongues. I 
screwed myself up behind a butt, and soon fell into that 
stupor which sea-sickness will create. In this state I con- 
tinued until morning; and, when awoke, I found that the 
hurricane had returned with redoubled fury, and that we 
were standing towards land. The captain came a-head to 
look out, and, after some consideration, he at last told the 
officer to stand out to sea. The following morning was 
ushered in by the sun's bright beams diffusing their lustre 
on the dejected features of frightened and helpless mortals. 
The dark clouds of sad despair were in mercy driven from 
our minds, and the bright beams of munificent love from 
above took their place. The before down-cast eye was 
seen to sparkle with delight, and the haggard cheek of 
despondency resumed its wonted serenity. The tempestu- 
ous bosom of the main was now smooth as a mirror, and 
til seemed grateful and cheerful, directing the eye of hope 
towards the far-distant haven to which we were bound. 

A great number of the fleet were the next morning to 
be seen emerging from their shelter, or hiding-places, from 
the terrific hurricane of the day before ; but our captain 
was resolved to be alone ; so the same night he crowded 
sail, and, by the following morning's dawn, we were so 



JIEMOIRS OF JOHN SHIJP?. 43 

much a-head that not a sail was visible, save one selitary 
sloop, that^ seemed bending her way towards England. 

Some three weeks after this, we were again visited by a 
most dreadful storm, that far exceeded the former one, and 
from which we suffered much external injury, our main- 
top-mast, and other smaller masts, being carried away. 
But the interior of our poor bark exhibited a scene of far 
greater desolation. We were then far Irom land, and 
a pestilential disease was raging among us in all its terrific 
forms. Naught could be seen but the pallid cheek of dis- 
ease, or the sunken eye of despair. The sea- gulls soared 
over the ship, and huge sharks hovered around it, v/atch- 
ing for their prey. These creatures are sure indications 
of ships having some pestilential disease on board, and 
they have been known to follow a vessel so circumstanced 
to the most distant climes, — to countries far from their 
native element. To add to our distresses, some ten bar- 
rels of ship's paint, or colour, got loose from their lashings, 
and rolled from side to side, and from head to stern, carry- 
ing every thing before them by their enormous weight. 
From our inability to stop them in their destructive pro- 
gress, they one and all were staved in, and the gun-deck 
soon became one mass of colours, in which lay the dead 
and the dying, both while and black. 

It would be difficult for the reader to picture to himself 
a set of men more deplorably situated than we now were ; 
but our distresses were not yet at their height : for, as 
though our miseries still required aggravation, the scurvy 
broke out among us in a most frightful manner. Scarcely 
a single individual on board escaped this melancholy disor- 
der, and the swoln legs, and gums protruding beyond the 
lips, attested the malignancy of the visitation. The dying 
were burying the dead, and the features of all on board 
wore the garb of mourning. 

Every assistance and attention that humanity or genero- 
sity could dictate, was freely and liberally bestowed by 
the officers on board, who cheerfully gave up their fresh 
meats and many other comforts, for the benefit of the dis- 
tressed ; but the pestilence baffled the aid of medicine and 
the skill of the medical attendants. My poor legs Were 
as big as drums; my gums swoln to an enormous size; 



44 MEMOIRS QP JOHN aSIPF. 

my tongue too big for my raouth ; and all I could eat was 
raw potatoes and vinegar. But my kind and affectionate 
officers spmetimes brought me some tea and coffee, at 
which the languid eye would brighten, and the tear of 
gratitude would intuitively fall, in spite of my efforts to 
repress what was thought unmanly. Our spirits were so 
subdued by suffering, and our frames so much reduced and 
emaciated, that 1 have seen poor men weep bitterly, they 
knew not why. Thus passed the time ; men dying in 
dozens, and ere their blood was cold, hurled into the briny 
deep, there to become a prey to sharks. It was a dread- 
ful sight to see the bodies of our comrades the bone of 
disputation with these voracious natives of the dreary deep ; 
and the reflection that such might soon be our own fate 
would crush our best feelings, and with horror drive the 
eye from such a sight. Our muster-rolls were dreadfully 
thinned ; indeed, almost every fourth man among the 
Europeans, and more than two-thirds of the natives, had 
fallen victims to the diseases on board, and it was by the 
mercy of Providence only that the ship ever reached her 
destination, for we had scarcely a seaman fit for duty to 
work her. Never shall I forget the morning I saw the 
land. In the moment of joy 1 forgot all my miseries, and 
cast them into the deep, in the hope of future happiness. 
This is mortal man's career. Past scenes are drowned 
and forgotten, in the anticipation of happier events to 
come ; aad., by a cherished delusion, we allow ourselves 
to be transported into the fairy land of imagination, in 
quest of future joys — never, perhaps, to be realized, but 
the contemplation of which in the distance serves at least 
to soothe us under present suffering. 

I cannot close this account of my first voyage on board 
a large ship, without testifying my heartfelt thanks to all 
the officers, both naval and military, who accompanied us, 
for the unbounded kindness and generosity they evinced, 
and the privations which they endured for the sake of their 
poor suffering fellow-creatures on board the Surat Castle. 
Nothing was withheld by these gentlemen that could 
tend to alleviate the pang of suffering. Could this mark 
of my gratitude ever meet the eye of even one of these 
humane individuals, I should be dehghted ; more particu- 



MEMaiRS OP JOHN SHIPr. 45 

larly the little captain of the ship : he was but a littk 
man, but his heart was, in charity, as big as the ship he 
commanded. 

When the view of land first blessed our sight, the 
morning was foggy and dreary. We were close under 
the land, and were in the very act of standing from it, 
when the fog dispersed, the wind shifted fair, and we ran 
in close to the mouth of Simmon's Bay, The now agree- 
able breeze ravished our sickened souls, and the sur- 
rounding view delighted our dim and desponding eyes. 
Every one who could crawl was upon deck, to welcome 
the sight of land, and inhale the salubrious air. Every 
soul on board seemed elated with joy ; and, when the an^ 
chor was let go, it was indeed an anchor to the broken 
hearts of poor creatures then stretched on the bed of sick- 
ness, who had not, during the whole voyage, seen the 
bright sun rising and setting, — sights at sea that beggar 
the power of description. For myself, 1 jumped and 
danced about with my long legs like a merry-andrew, 
and I found, or fancied 1 found, myself already a con- 
valescent. 

The anchor had not been down long, when a boat 
came off from shore, on board of which were several 
medical gentlemen, who questioned us as to whence we 
came, whither we were bound, the state of the ship, the 
nature of the disease, and the number of men that had 
died during the passage. The number of men was a 
finishing blow to our present hopes, and we were ordered 
to ride at quarantine ; but every comfort that humanity or 
liberahty could dictate was immediately sent on board : 
fresh meats, bread, tea, sugar, coffee, and fruits of all 
kinds ; and, in a few days, our legs began to re-assume 
their original shapes, and the disease died away. The 
quarantine was very soon taken off, and the troops landed, 
and were marched, or rather carried, to the barracks that 
stand on the brow of the hill, at the back of Simmon's 
Town. Here our treatment was that of children of dis- 
tress ; every comfort was afforded us, and every means 
adopted by our kind officers which could contribute to- 
wards our recovery. For the first fortnight drills were out 
of the question, instead of which we were kindly nursed-. 



46 MEMOIKS OF JOHN SHIPP. 

until the disease was completely eridicated ; and by this 
careful treatment we were all soon restored to the enjoy- 
irient of health. But few men died of those that were 
landed ; and. if I recollect right, our total loss was 
seventy-two m«n. IN' ot withstanding all our troubles and 
misfortunes, we arrived befbie the other divisions of the 
regiment ; but they had not suffered from disease : their 
toss was two men only. 



CHAPTER V. ' 

Simmon's Town is situated on the bay which bears the 
same name, and contams many well-built houses. Here 
we were stationed for a short time ; and, as the regiment 
was not restricted from going out, I soon commenced 
reconnoitreing the locahties of the neighbourhood, and 
was glad that there were a number of well-stocked j/ar- 
dens close to the barracks. A pound of meat (and that 
of the worst,) and three quarters of a pound of bread per 
diem, was but a scanty allowance for a growing lad. In- 
deed, I frequently managed to get through my three day's 
bread in one ; but, as we could get fish for a mere song, 
and as the gardens of our neighbours, the Dutchmen, sup- 
plied us with potatoes, we continued, one way or another, 
to fare tolerably well at this station. 

We were soon after moved to the station of Muisenbourg, 
seven miles nearer to Cape Town, a post defended by a 
small battery, and the beach, in places of easy access, 
guarded by a few guns. The toad from Simmon's Town 
to Muisenbourg sometimes runs along the beach^ which is 
very flat, and on which the sea flows with gentle undula- 
tions ; and, at others, winds round the feet of craggy hills 
covered with masses of stone, which have the appearance 
of being merely suspended in the air, ready to be rolled 
down upon you by the shghtest touch. On these hills 
whole regiments of baboons assemble, for which this sta- 



MEMOIRS OF JOHN SHIPP. 47 

tion is particularly famous. They stand six feet high, and 
in features and manners approach nearer to the human 
species than any other quadruped I have ever seen. These 
rascals, who are most abominable thieves, used to annoy 
us exceedingly. Our barracks vrere under the hills, and 
when we went to parade, we were invariably obliged to 
leave armed men for the protection of our property ; and, 
even in spite of this, they have frequently stolen our 
blankets and great coats, or anything else they could lay 
their claws on. A poor woman, a soldier's wife, had 
washed her blanket and hung it out to dry, when some of 
these miscreants, who were ever on the watch, stole it, and 
ran off with it into the hills, which are high and woody. 
This drew upon them the indignation of the regiment, and 
we formed a strong party, armed with sticks and stones, 
to attack them, with the view of recovering the property, 
and inflicting such chastisement as might be a warning to 
them for the future. I was on the advance, with about 
twenty men, and I made a detour to cut them off from 
caverns to which they always flew for shelter. They 
observed my movement, and immediately detached about 
fifty to guard the entrance, while the others kept their 
post, and we could distinctly see them collecting large 
stones and other missiles. One old gray-headed one, in 
particular, who often paid us a visit at the barracks, and 
was known by the name o^ Father Murphy ^w^s&^gh dis- 
tributing his orders, and planning the attack, with the 
judgment of one of our best generals. Finding that my 
design was defeated, I joined the corps de main^ and 
rushed on to the attack, when a scream from Father 
Murphy was a signal for a general encounter, and the 
host of baboons under his command rolled down enor- 
mous stones upon us, so that we were obliged to give up 
the contest, or some of us must inevitably have been 
killed. They actually followed us to our very doors, 
shouting in indication of victory ; and, during the whole 
night, we heard dreadful yells and screaming ; so much 
so, that we expected anight attack. In the morning, how- 
ever, we found that all this rioting had been created by dis* 
putes about the division of the blanket, for we saw eight or 
ten of them with pieces of it on their backs, as old women 
Avear their cloaks. Among the number strutted Father Muy- 



Mr 



48 MEMOIRS OF JOHN SIIIPP* 

phy. These rascals annoyed us day and night, and we 
dared not venture out unless a party of five or six went 
together. 

One morning, Father Murphy had the consummate im- 
pudence to walk straight into the granadier barracks, and 
he was in the very act of purloining a sergeant's regi- 
mental coat, when a corporal's guard (which had just 
been relieved) took the liberty of stopping the gentleman 
at the door, and secured him. He was a most powerful 
brute, and, 1 am persuaded, too much for any single man. 
Notwithstanding his frequent misdemeanors, we did not 
like to kill the poor creature ; so, having first taken the 
precaution of muzzling him, we determined on shaving his 
head and face, and then turning him loose. To this cere- 
mony, strange to say, he submitted very quietly ; and, 
when shaved, he was really an exceedingly good-looking 
fellow, and I have seen many a " biood" in Bond Street 
not half so prepossessing in his appearance, We then 
started him up the hill, though he seemed rather reluc- 
tant to leave us. Some of his companions came down to 
meet him ; but, from the alteration which shaving his 
head and face had made in him, they did not know him 
again, and, accordingly, pelted him with stones, and beat 
him with sticks, in so unmerciful a manner, that poor 
Father Murphy actually sought protection from his ene- 
mies, and he in time became quite domesticated and 
tame. There are many now alive, in his Majesty's 22d 
regiment of foot, who can vouch for the truth of this 
anecdote. 

We soon bade farewell to Muisenbourg, and marched 
to Windbourg, and were in camp several months. Here 
we suffered dreadfully from the inclemency of the weather, 
and from lying on damp ground in small bell tents ; added 
to which, our very lives were drilled out by brigade 
field-days, from three and four o'clock in the morning, 
until seven and eight o'clock at night. At this period 
the Caffi'es were committing the most terrific murders 
and robberies among the Dutch boors up the country. 
To stop these devastations, a rifle company was 
formed from the several corps of the 8th Dragoons, 
and the 22d, 34th, 65th, 81st, and 91st regiments, and 
placed under the command of Captain Effingham Lind- 



MSiSlOIRS OF JOHN SHIPl'. 49 

say, one of the bravest soldiers in his Majesty's army. 
We were dressed in green, and our pieces were browned 
to prevent their being seen in the woods where the 
Caffres congregated. About three moiuhs after the for- 
mation of the company, we were sent up the country, in 
conjunction with the light company of the 91st regiment 
and a corps of Hottentots. We embarked on board the 
Diamond frigate, and reached Algoa Bay in fourteen 
days, having experienced bad weather. From thence we 
marched to Grafrenette, about five or six hundred miles in 
the interior, and fifteen hundred miles from Cape Town, 
and took up our quarters in a Dutch church. The road 
from Algoa Bay to Grafrenette is hill and dale, and 
infested with lions, tigers, hyaenas, wolves, and elephants ; 
and we frequently saw eight or ten a-day, at a place called 
Rovee Bank, a day's march on this side of the great pass. 
One day I went out shooting wild ducks here with another 
person. We came to a pool of water, surrounded with 
very high grass (some of it ten feet high), which abounded 
with wild ducks and geese. I took aim and fired, and 
had just time to see that at least one bird had fallen a 
victim to number four, when 1 heard a most tremendous 
roar, and the whole pool was in a moment in a state of 
commotion. I was in the act of plunging into the water 
after my butchered duck, when imagine my astonish- 
ment and alarm, on seeing an enormous white ele- 
phant rush out from the grass, roaring loudly, and striking 
the grass aside with his trunk. Neither myself nor my 
companion had ever seen one before, and we had now no 
inclination for a second peep ; so, leaving the ducks to 
their fate, we took to our heels, and never stopped till we 
arrived safe in camp. 

At every farmer's house on our line of march we found 
sad vestiges of murder and desolation. Whole families had 
been wantonly massacred by this wild and misguided race 
of people, whose devastations it was now our duty to 
check, and whose ignorance is so extraordinary, that I am 
persuaded they are insensible that murder is a crime. 
Beautiful farm-houses were to be seen still smoking; 
the families either murdered, or run away to seek 
refuge elsewhere. Not a living creature was to be 

Vol. I.— 5 



i>0 3IEM0ISS OF JOHN SHIPP. 

seen, unless, perjchance, a poor dog might be diseovered 
howling, over the dead body of his master ; or some 
wounded horse or ox, groaning with the stab of a spear 
or other mutilation. The savage Caffre exults in these 
appalling sights ; gaping wounds, and the pangs of the 
dying, are to his dark and infatuated mind the very acme 
of enjoyment. This barbarous race, when they have sue- 
ceeded in any of their>murderous exploits, appear to be 
30 excited to eQstacy, that they will jump about in a sort 
of phrenzy, hurling their spears in all directions, and in 
the most reckless manner, either at.man or beast. They 
are quite insensible to the value of money, which they 
would accept on account of its glitter only ; while a more 
jhining gilt butJon would be prized by them as^of ines- 
timable value. In short, they seem scarcely to possess a 
rational idea beyond what may tend to the gratification 
of the appetite; and. I have myself, seen them with 
women's gowns, petticoats, shawls, &c. tied round their 
legs, and between their toes, and in this manner they 
would run wildly into the Vvoods, shouting in exultation. 

These people had got information that we were their 
avowed enemies and come to destroy them, and take 
from them their enormous herds of cattle : they were, 
therefore, driven far into the interior of almost inaccessi- 
ble parts of the country, where we could not follow them. 
Some few stragglers were left in the neighbourhood to 
watch our movements, with whom we had some slight 
skirmishes ; but, from the extreme intricacy of the woods, 
we could do but little with them. 

The CafFres may unquestionably be considered as a for- 
midable enemy. They are inured to war and plunder, 
and most of them are such famous miarksmen with their 
darts, that they will make sure of their aim at sixty or 
eighty paces' distance. When you fire upon them they 
will throw themselves flat upon their faces, and thus avoid 
the ball ; and, even if you hit them, it is doubtful whether 
the ball would take effect, the skins worn by them being 
(Considered to be ball-proof. Added to this, as they reside 
in woodS;, in the most inaccessible parts of which they 
t.ak^ refuge on being hard pressed by their enemies, an, 
offensive warfare against them is inconceivably arduous. 

Before they deUver the darls with which they are arm e(T» 



MEMOIRS QV JOHN SHIPl\ 61 

tlitjy run side- ways ; the left shoulder projected forward, 
and the right considerably lowered, with the right hana 
extended behind them, the dart lying flat in the palm of the 
hand, the point near the right eye. When discharged 
from the grasp, it flies with such velocity that you can 
scarcely see it, and when in the air it looks like a shuttle- 
cock violently struck. They carry, slung on their backs, 
about a dozen of these weapons, with which single mer 
have been known to kill lions and tigers. 

From this harassing warfare, travelling through aloiosi 
impenetrable woods, over tremendous hills, and through 
rivers, we were soon in a terribly ragged condition. Oui 
shoes we managed to replace from the raw hides of buf- 
faloes, in the following manner: the foot was placed on 
the hide, which was then cut to the shape of the solcj 
and fastened to the foot by thongs made of the same ma- 
terial, sewed to the sole instead of upper-leathers, in 
two or three days this dried and formed to the shape oi 
the foot, and was sure to be a fit. When we had remained 
at this station about two years, it was truly laughable to 
see the metamorphosis of the once- white regimental 
trousers. Here and there pieces had been sewn in to 
patch up holes, and, these pieces being of materials oi 
other texture as well as other colours, we looked, at a 
distance, like spotted leopards. During these two years 
I had sprung up some six inches, outgrowing, of course, 
both my jacket and trousers ; and, when I was in full case 
for parade, my figure must have been exceedingly ludi- 
crous. My jacket was literally a strait jacket; for, from 
its extreme tightness, I could scarcely raise my hand to- 
my head. My pantaloons or trousers had been, during 
the whole period, continually rising in the world, and now 
they would scarcely condescend to protect my protruding 
knees. [ was but a novice at the needle, so that the 
patches I put on were either too small or too large. Ir 
this predicament I had to march nearly fifteen hundred 
miles through Africa. The rest of the men were but 
little better off, and we might well have been compared 
to FalstafTs ragged recruits, with whom he swore he 
would not march through Coventry. 

Having continued on this duty for upwards of two years^ 
to very little purpose, the Gape of Good Hope wa? 



32 MEMOIRS OF JOHN SHIPP. 

ordered by the British Government (in 1801), to be given 
up to the Dutch. To remove the Rifle Company, and 
the hght company of the 91st Foot, a small vessel was 
despatched from Cape Town to Algoa Bay, for their con- 
veyance to the capital, preparatory to embarking for 
India. I was despatched over land with a Dutch boor's 
family, then about to leave the station for Cape Town. 
The whole of the officers' baggage was committed to «iy 
care, which was a very serious charge and responsibility, 
through such a wild and desolate country. On this trip 
I had to pass along the margin of the country inhabited 
by the CafFres ; and, although the Dutch family with 
whom 1 travelled had muskets and four wagons, these 
sojourners in the woods and hills neither feared them nor 
their guns. After laying in a good stock of powder and 
shot, we commenced our march in regular array. I was 
mounted on a horse, with my rifle slung over my back, 
always loaded, and a pistol in my holster-pipe ; on each 
side rode the Dutchman's two sons ; after us, four Hotten- 
tots, armed with muskets ; then the old boss (the master) ; 
and, following him, the four wagons containing the 
families and property of all. The rear- guard consisted of 
two head servants (Hottentots), armed, on bullocks ; then 
four on foot, with their families, many of the women car- 
rying two children. Thus we would accomplish twenty 
miles a-day over the most enormous hills ; and, if we 
could not reach a farm-house by the setting sun (which 
was the time we generally halted) we selected the most 
open spot we could find for our encampment^ forming a 
square with the four wagons, keeping our cattle inside, 
where they were fed. Six men out of the twelve kept 
watch the whole night, and were relieved every four hours, 
in which duty I always took a part. In fact, we were 
so often disturbed, either by the CafFres, or some beast of 
prey prowling about our httle fortified encampment, that 
we might be said to be always watching. The Caffre 
possesses a great deal of cunning and craft. Their system 
of attack is this : under the garb of night, when all is 
still, save the roaring lion, the hungry tiger, or the 
screacbing owl, they will crawl on their hands and knees* 
imitating the cries of any animal of the woods, or any 



MEMOIRS OJ JOHN SHIPP, 63-, 

bird of the air. At the smallest noise they will turn 
themselves flat on the ground, so that you may walk close 
by and not observe them ; and the first indication given 
you of having such dangerous neighbours, is by the inci- 
sion of a spear, or the blow of a club. These imitations 
of the cries of animals, and chirping of birds, are well 
understood among themselves. No wonder, then, that 
we should watch. It was no unusual thing in the morning 
to see their spears lodged in the top of our wagons, and 
close by where we kept watch ; but we never attempted 
to leave our possessions, and resolved not to throw away 
our precious powder and ball on slight occasions. To 
narrate the numerous trials, watchings, privations, perils, 
and escapes of this trip, would of itself fill a larger space 
than I can devote to such a detail. Suffice it, for the 
present, that we at last reached Gape Town in safety. 

The Dutchman with whom I was travelling had two 
daughters ; the younger of whom, Sabina by name, was a 
most lovely creature. She was tall and rather slim ; of 
symmetrical form ; in complexion, a brunette ; with black 
eyes and hair ; her foot extremely small ; and her waist 
scarcely a span. Her manners were vivacious and inter- 
esting, and her education had been by no means neglected ; 
As we proceeded on our perilous journey, this charming 
girl would single me out as her companion, and seek con - 
solation in my society and conversation, from the coarse- 
ness of her father, who was a very gross man. It need 
scarcely be confessed by me, that I was nothing loath to 
be thus distinguished ; neither can it reasonably be ex- 
pected that I was long insensible to the charms of mj 
amiable companion. I would walk by her side, while she 
rode my horse the whole march ; and, in this manner, day 
after day passed away like so many hours, and our attach- 
ment grew stronger and stronger, and at length settled 
into a deep-rooted affection, and was cemented by an in- 
terchange of protestations of mutual love. She was a 
year younger than I ; my age being then sixteen, and 
her's fifteen ; but the appearance of both was far beyond 
that tender age. 

Convinced of the reciprocity of our attachment, thus; 
we journeyed on, indulging in visions of bliss 5 and it was" 
5^ 



54 MEMOIRS OP JOHN SHIP?. 

not until we had approached within a short distance af 
our destination, that the idea first crossed my mind that we 
mast soon part. Until this moment all my faculties had 
yielded to the fascinations of my enslaver, from the con- 
templation of whose beauty it had seemed treason to steal 
a thought ; but, now that the time approached when my 
duty must tear me from her, and when I reflected that 
from that duty there was no possibility of shrinking with- 
out disgrace, the absolute necessity of separation from my 
beloved Sabina rushed upon my senses, and almost drove 
me to despair. These bitter thoughts having thus sud- 
denly and painfully intruded, I revolved within my mind, 
in all ways, the possibilities of extricating myself from my 
perplexing situation ; and the more I reflected, the more 
was I distressed and embarrassed. Marriage would not 
have been consented to by my commanding ofiicer, on 
account of my extreme youth ; the thought of any less 
honourable proposal I could not myself encourage for a 
moment ; and, in short, it soon became clear to me, that 
there was but one road of escape from the heart-rending 
necessity of parting at once, and for ever, from my lovely 
brunette, — desertion. The idea of being compelled to 
Tesort to such an alternative started me ; 1 knew the enor- 
mity of the oflence, and the consequences of such a step ; 
but the recollection that it was my only resource haunted 
me day and night. As often as it intruded upon my dis- 
tracted mind, I endeavoured to drive it from me ; but it 
stuck to irie hke ivy on the crumbling tower. What to 
do I could not resolve. I at last mentioned the subject to 
Sabina, and it seemed that the thought of our approaching 
separation had been by her also forgotten in our mutual 
love. The moment I hinted at the possibility of parting, 
she turned as pale as death ; I saw the crystal tear steal 
down her beautiful cheek ; she trembled ; and at last 
swooned away. It was then the dark fiend again urged me 
on, and I promised, in the moment of grief and excitement, 
that I would desert, and follow her wherever she might go. 
Her sweet eye beamed ineffable pleasure ; she seized my 
hand ; kissed it a hundred times ; and she said in a most 
pathetic manner, " Will you really return with me to my 
liome?" I declared I would, whatever might be the results 



3IEM0IRS OP JOHN SHIPP. 5^ 

She said^ " Swear it, and I shall live ; deny me, and I shal^ 
die." The concluding part of this appeal was urged with 
such a searching anguish, that it drew from me a solemn 
promise of desertion. This resolution was communicated 
to her family, and one and all urged me to go, or rather 
return with them to their homes, pointing out the hapr 
piness I should enjoy with their beautiful sister. These 
were arguments too cogeat to be resisted, and I again 
promised to return with them. Scarcely had the fatal pro- 
mise been repeated, when the recollection of my native 
country, my home, my country's glory, my regiment, and 
the disgrace attached to the committal of so bad a crime, all 
rushed in quick succession upon my bewildered mind. I 
thought — I paused ; but a single glance from the eye of 
my beloved Sabina plainly told ma that the first whisper of 
love would suffice to confirm me in my fatal resolution. 

We were now within sight of Cape Town, and here 
again my feelings, distressed at the thought of deserting, 
goaded me beyond description. I sometimes gave up the 
idea, and resolved to fly from temptation, and seek pro- 
tection with my regiment ; but the melodious^ voice of 
Sabina calling me by name, would at once dissipate my 
better resolutions, until I at last abandoned all idea of the 
possibility of parting. I contented myself with praying 
most devoutly that the regiment might have sailed ere 1 
arrived, which would have saved me from the stigma of 
desertion. In the event of the regiment being still at 
Cape Town, I had sworn to my betrothed and her family 
to return to them. Thus we parted: my arrival was 
hailed by my comrades with delight, as they feared I had 
been murdered by the Caffi-es ; and I received every kind 
of congratulation, and several very handsome presents, 
from all those officers whose things I had in charge. Some 
hundred miles before I had reached Cape Town, the old 
Dutchman had tried hard to persuade me to remain be- 
hind, with all the property, till he and his family returned. 
This I resolutely refused : desertion was of itself bad 
enough, without adding to it the crimes of breach of trust 
and theft. I had not, in our long and arduous march, lost 
or injured a single thing, but delivered them all safe into 
the. custody of their rightful owners, and in the evening 



^6 MBMOIHS OF 30ms SHIPP. 

went to see my Sabina at her friend's house, where I wa? 
informed that the family proposed leaving Cape Town for 
their home on the following Monday. Alter a severe 
struggle, I consented to accompany them ; for which pur- 
pose I stole out of the barracks after hours, and joined 
them at the appointed place outside the town. I need 
not say my arrival was hailed with delight, for I had kept 
them waiting an hour beyond the appointed time ; Sabina 
locked her arm in mine ; the procession moved on ; and 
in my excessive love I forgot my crime. Reader, judge 
me not too harshly: consider my youth, and the tempta- 
tion I had to contend against ; and, before you utterly 
condemn me, place yourself under the same combination 
of circumstances, and tell me how you would have actml 
in my place. 

We had proceeded about thirty miles from Cape Town^ 
and were busily engaged building castles of future bliss, 
when (oh, short-sighted mortals!) the provost-marshal 
thrust bis head into the wagon, and pointed a pistol al 
me, saying, if I attempted to move, he would shoot me. 
This mandate was too pointed to be disobeyed ; and, in 
ten minutes after, I was on my way back to Cape Town^ 
having been dragged from the embraces of her for whom 
I had sacrificed my all. From that moment I never saw, 
or heard of, the fair Sabina or her family, who would also 
undoubtedly have been seized, but that 1 took all the blame 
upon my own shoulders. I was tried by a regimental 
court-martial for being absent from morning parade, and 
for desertion, and sentenced to receive 999 lashes, being 
more than fifty lashes for every year 1 was old ; but mj 
commanding officer v/as a kind and affectionate man, and 
had known me from the day 1 entered his regiment ; he 
could not consent that I should receive a single lash, but 
sent for me, and admonished me hke a parent, painted the 
crime of desertion in all its enormities, and dismissed me. 
with the assurance of his full forgiveness and friendship^ 
adding, that he was assured I had been deluded away by 
the Dutchman and his family. This I never would ac-. 
knowledge, until some months afterwards, when, knowing 
that they must be far out of our reach. I related the whole 
transaction. 



MEMOIRS OP JOHN SHIPP. Si 

Some of the Dutch troops, to whom we were to resign 
the Cape, had already arrived from Java and Batavia, and 
other Dutch settlements, many of whom flocked to the 
wharf to see us embark, and, where they dared, to offer 
insults. A huge brute sidled up to me, with his greasy 
mustachios, which he began to curl and twist between his 
fore-finger and thumb, at the same time chucking me 
under the chin, and calling me a pretty boy. For this I 
took the liberty of saluting him with a kick on the shins, 
for which he attempted to seize my ears ; but I fixed my 
bayonet (a weapon the Dutch have a great aversion to) ; 
so he marched off. The following morning we embarked 
for India, on board a small American vessel that had been 
lying a considerable time at the Cape. 

When the lan<l was buried in distance, I could not help 
reviewing the many providential escapes I had already ex- 
perienced during my short career, and the mercies that had 
been extended to me in the most perilous situations. Did 
men but oftener attribute them to that great source from 
whence all our mercies are derived, we should think less 
of our often fancied hardships, and feel grateful tcr the 
blessings we enjoy. In my case, it was impossible to look 
back upon the last four years of my life, without trem- 
bling at the scenes I had been carried through in safety, „ 
and addressing a prayer of thanksgiving to the fountain of 
all love, for the unmerited protection that had been ex- 
tended towards me. 

We had scarcely got to sea a day, when we found that 
it was a difficult matter to determine which was the more 
cranky^ the vessel or the captain. She took in water in 
large quantities, — he grog; she would not go steady, — = 
neither would he ; she rolled and pitched, — so did he ; 
she shook her head, — so did he ; she was often sea-sick, 
— so was he : in fact, they were a cranky pair. She had 
lain so long at the Cape, that her bottom liad become 
foul, and she would not go more than four knots an hour, 
if it blew a hurricane, and then she seemed to tear the 
very water asunder. We prowled about the deep like the 
wandering Jew on earth, until at last our water began to 
evince symptoms of decline, and it was justly feared we 
should soon suffer much under a hot sun for want of that 



58 MEMOIRS OF JOim SHIPP. 

great essential ; but about a week after we stumbled upoii 
land, which, after a great deal of reconnoitreing, our wise 
captain pronounced to be some part of Sumatra. How- 
ever this might be, it was a welcome sight to us ; but, as 
it was late iu the evening when we discovered it, we were 
obliged to steer about the whole night. About ten o'clock 
the clouds began to thicken, and the wind blew from 
shore ; about twelve it blew a smart gale, and we hove 
to ; our vessel lay like a log of wood, scarcely moving, 
till the morning. dawned, when the storm had subsided in 
a great degree, and we stood in for land. The hills looked 
woody, and the valleys fertile. We at last got into a small 
bay, or basin, where the surrounding scenery was beautiful 
in the extreme. Several canoes were to be seen steering 
up the creeks, and men and women running into the 
woods, in seeming alarm and consternation. We an- 
chored about 300 yards from the shore. The movements 
of the natives did not evince any friendly inclination 
towards us, but the contrary ; and it was fortunate that 
we had the means of taking by compulsion what we should 
willingly have purchased, wood and water, those two es- 
sentials to man's existence. To convince them, if possi- 
ble, that our appearance in this basin was not of a hostile 
nature, a small boat was despatched, with six or seven 
men, four of them armed. I wa6 one, and we approached 
the shore with great caution. We could plainly see people 
Mding behind trees, and carrying away their moveables 
from some huts which stood about two hundred yards 
from the shore, where we could also discover fishing-nets, 
canoes that had been dragged ashore, a iew domestic 
fowls, and one or two goats and kids. We beckoned 
them to approach, but they seemed shy, and would not 
come near us. The captain's servant was a native of 
Ceylon, and could speak several languages. We landed 
liim, but he was justly afraid to venture far from the boat. 
He soon, however, made them understand the object for 
which we put into this port, and informed them that we 
were willing to purchase both wood and water at a reason- 
able price. This they would not consent to, but requested 
OS immediately to weigh anchor and leave the bay, or dread 
the displeasure of their king, whom they had apprised of 



MEMOIRS OF JOHN SHIPP, j9 

our intrusion into their country. It appeared from this 
that we had no alternative but to take what we required 
by force ; we, therefore, disregarded the threats of the 
subjects of his black Majesty, and the following morn- 
ing got out the long-boat, with implements for getting 
in water, and cutting wood. The latter was already 
cut to our hands, as the surrounding country was one 
mass of fuel, that had decayed, and been blown down 
by the tempest. The water was close by, a most beauti- 
ful crystal stream ; but the moment we had commenced 
work, we saw an enormous number of people, with 
swords, spears, and daggers, approaching towards us. 
We formed a line, primed and loaded, and prepared for a 
fight ; but, resolved not to be the aggressors, we again 
despatched the native servant to endeavour to reason them 
into compliance ; for which purpose, a small safeguard 
went with him. After a great deal of threatening and 
blustering, they consented to sell the water for live dollars 
per butt, and the wood in proportion. This exorbitant 
claim was of course rejected with indignation ; but, still 
wishing to keep friendly with them, we offered one dollar 
per butt. This was refused by them, and the servant re- 
turned. Meantime, we continued filling our water uten- 
sils and collecting fire- wood, with the greatest industry, 
keeping our eyes on them all the while. There appeared 
to be a deal of consultation among the natives, and a 
number of messengers going and coming: at last an 
arrow was fired, which fell close to where I was standing. 
Another soon followed it ; and the officer in command of 
our party then ordered two or three men to fire in the air. 
This alarmed them so, that they took to their heels, and 
Fan shouting into the woods, and we went hard to work. 
In about an hour, the inhabitants, encouraged by our pa- 
cific appearance, sent a man to inform us, that " his Ma- 
jesty had been pleased to permit the strangers to tread 
npon the margin of his country, and drink his water of 
mercy" (so interpreted by the native servant) ; and that 
■' his Majesty would come and hold communion of friend- 
ship with the strangers on the following day, if the day 
>vas auspicious ; that we might drink as much water of 
his Inercy as we pleased, and cut as much wood ; but hi? 



60 MEMiaiRS OF JOHN SHIPP. 

Majesty begged we would not attempt to make incursions 
into his country, as he could not be held responsible, if 
his elephants and bull- dogs got loose, and destroyed the 
strangers ; and further, that he would, in his most gracious 
mercy, send us all sorts of fruits, &,c., at a moderate 
price." To this message we returned a very gracious 
answer ; and about ten the following morning a great 
number of boats were seen coming down the several 
creeks, which, concentrating at the ^bottom of a small 
village a little way up the largest creek, at last came on 
their way towards the ship, in number about thirty, with 
about four men in each boat. It had been before under- 
stood that not one person would be admitted with arms, 
and only ten people at a time. His Maje&ty did not 
choose to make his appearance, but had instructed those 
that did come to say, that he had consulted his divines, 
and they had pronounced the day an inauspicious one. 
We were, therefore, deprived of his royal presence ; but, 
if he was as big a thief as those he sent to represent him, 
his Majesty was qualified for a more exalted sphere — the 
gallows : such a set of rogues I have never seen in the 
whole course of my life. They brought oranges, plan- 
tains, &:,c. and some few ducks, chickens, and eggs, for 
barter ; but they were such thieves that you could not 
trust them even to handle the article you wished to barter. 
If you trusted it out of your own hand, it was handed by 
them from one to another, and ultimately to their canoes, 
and then you might " fish for it," to use a soldier's term. 
A ludicrous scene took place between a tar and one of 
these fellows. Jack offered his blanket for sale, as he had 
now got into a warm cUmate, and it was of no further 
use to him. Jack, in good, sound, and intelligible Eng- 
lish, particularized the length, breadth, and quality of his 
blanket, qualifying his description with many an oath, not 
one syllable of which did the purchaser understand. 
During the examination of the said blanket. Jack kept 
hold of ono end, pledging his tarry honour to the authen- 
ticity of his assertion, that it was a real Witney. Some 
one at this moment took off Jack's attention, and he 
withdrew his hand from the blanket, which soon found its 
way to the canoe. The tar uttered sundry imprecations 
touching his "day-lights" and "grappling-irons," and 



MEMOIRS OF JOHN SI^l.PP. 61 

was Up on deck, and down into the canoe, in a moment, 
overhauling every thing ; but neither the blanket nor the 
purchaser was to be found. At this the sailor ran about 
like a madman, until, at last, he espied the fellow moving 
down the fore-hatchway. Being certain of his man, he 
took one hop, skip, and jump, and fastened on the fellow's 
neck, vociferating,^ — " Halloa, shipmate,Vhere have you 
stowed my blanket ? Come, skull it over, or I shall board 
you, before you can say luff." The fellow did not, of 
course, understand one word he said ; but Jack soon 
brought him to his bearings, as he called it, by mooring 
him on the deck, and swearing that, if he did not " skull 
over the Witney," he would tear him into rope-yarns* 
Thus roughly treated, poor blackey bellowed out lustily 
for mercy, which brought down the first officer, who asked 
Jack Carter (for that was his name), what was the mat« 
ter. He replied, ^' This here black rascal has grappled 
my blanket, so I am just after boarding him ; and, if he 
don't shore it out, I '11 sink him, or Jack Carter is no 
sailor. '^ Here he commenced hammering his head against 
tlie deck, until the knave said something to one of his 
countrymen, who ran forward where his canoe was, and 
put an end to the dispute by producing the Witney. 

The following day we again bent our way towards India, 
with light hearts and cheerful countenances. We soon 
reached the Pilot, cruising off the sand-heads of Saugar, 
and steered our way up the River Hoogley. This river 
is wide, and its current powerful. The Views on each 
side, when you ir^et as far as Fultab, are romantic, and we 
wore out our eyes in feasting on nature's beauties. On 
rounding the corner, or protruding neck of land, on which 
stand the company's botanical gardens. Fort William first 
appears ; then Calcutta, with its innumerable shipping, 
bursts upon the view, and the beholder gazes on the beau- 
tiful fortification of the fort, and the city of palaces, with 
astonishment and delight. We passed the for^ in full sail, 
and were hailed from its ramparts by the artillery, and part 
of the 10th Regiment of Foot, then in garrison there. 
We returned the welcome greeting with three loud cheers.^ 
and in five minutes after came to anchor off Esplenade 
Ghent, after a voyage of more than five months. 

Vol. I.— 6 



JVIEMOIRS OF JOHN SHIPF, 



CHAPTER VL 



The instant the anchor was gone, boats were along 
side, for the purpose of conveying the two companies 
ashore ; and, in a oonple of hours, we were safely lodged 
m our quarters at Fort WilUam. Here the five companies 
of his Majesty's 10th Regiment of Foot joined our lads, 
with bottles of rutn, and a scene ensued that was beyond 
description ; drinking, singing, dancing, shouting, fighting, 
and bottles fiying in all directions. The sight was ter- 
rific i so I marched off to the bazaar, to get out of the 
bustle ; went round the fort, and visited every thing worth 
seeing. On my return to the barracks, I found the men 
lying in a state of the most disgusting drunkenness ; 
some on the floor, others on cots, trunks, and boxes. la 
those days I knew not the taste of spirituous liquors ; 
and, indeed, for years after : consequently, instead of 
joining those scenes of revelry and discord, they were t« 
me offensive and disgusting in the extreme. The very 
smell of arrack would at any time drive me from the bar- 
rack, and many a night have I slept in the open air to 
avoid the fines arising from its use, as well as the drunken 
jargon of those who drank it to excess. 

I had now attained the age of eighteen. years ; was 
healthy and active : a zealous (though very humble) 
member of the profession I had chosen ; and an ardent 
aspirant to share in my country's glory. With these feel- 
ings and qualifications, assuring myself that, now I was 
in India, I was in the wide field of promise, I began to 
revolve in my mind if I could not better my situation. I 
"was then fifer and bugler in the light company, the kind 
captain of which, seeing my anxious spirit, generously 
undertook to improve me in reading and writing, of whicfa 
I at that time knew but little. In the course of one year's 
close application, I so much improved as to keep his 
books of the company and his own private accounts. I 
thca begged of him that I might be removed from thr 



MMtOIES OP JOHN SHIPP. ho 

tirummers to the ranks. I did not like the appellation 
iirum-boy. As I have seen many a man riding post, who 
tvas at least sixty years old, still called a post-boy, so, if a 
drummer had attamed the age of Methusaleni, he would 
never acquire any other title than drum- boy. Indeed, 
there were many other things I could never bring myself 
to relish in any eminent degree : such as Hogging, (to 
say nothing of being flogged,) and dancing attendance on 
a capricious sergeant-major, or his more consequential 
spouse, who is queen of the soldiers' wives, and mother 
of tipplers, and an invitation-card trom whom to tea and 
cards is considered a pont'erous obligation. 

In about a week after having made this request, I was 
transferred from the drunmiers' rot m, and promoted to 
the rank of corporal. This v^as promotion indeed — three 
steps in one day! From drum-boy to private; from a 
battalion company to the Light Bobs ; and from private 
to corporal, I was not k)ng before 1 paraded myself in 
the tailor's .shop, and tipped ti;e master- snip a rupee to 
give me a good and neat cut, such as became a full cor- 
poral. By evening paratle my blushing honours came 
thick upon me. The captain came u| on parade, and 
read aloud the regimental orders of the day, laying great 
stress upon, " to the rank of corporal, and to be obeyed 
accordingly." I was on the right of the company, being 
the tallest man on parade, when 1 was desired by the 
captain to fall out, and give the time. I did so, and never 
did a fugleman cut more capers ; but here an awkward 
accident happened. In shouldering arms, 1 elevated my 
left hand high in the air ; extended n y leg in an oblique 
direction, with the point of my toe just touching the 
ground ; but, in throwing the musket up in a fugle-like 
manner, the cock caught the bottom oi" my jacket, and 
down come brown Bess flat upon my toes, to the great 
amusement of the tittering company. 1 must confess, 1 
felt queer ; but I soon recovered my piec e and my gravity, 
and all went on smoothly, till 1 got into the barracks, 
where a quick hedge-firing commenced from all quarters ; 
such as,— " Shoulder hems T'- — ''Shoulder hems !'''— 
*' Twig the fugleman!" This file-firing increased to 
^^oileys, till I was obliged to exert my authority by threat- 



64 MEMOIRS OF JOHH SHIPF. - 

ening them with the guard-house, for riotous conduct ; 
but this only increased the merriinent, so I pocketed the 
affront, as the easiest and most good-natured mode of 
escape ; my persecutors ceased, and thus ended my first 
parade as a non-commissioned officer. 

In my new sphere of hfe 1 now felt that there was, un- 
questionably, some satisfaction derivable from being— 

" Clothed ia a little brief authority." 

A corporal has to take command of small guards ; is 
privileged to visit the sentinels whenever he pleases ; his 
suggestions are frequently attended to by his superiors j 
and his orders must be promptly obeyed by tliose belovv 
him. There is certainly a pleasure in all this, and a man 
rises proportionately in his own esteem. In short, to 
confess the truth, I now looked upon a drum-boy as little 
better than his drum. 

Full of the importance of my situation and duties, thus 
passed the time for nearly six months, at the end of which 
I was advanced to the rank of sergeant, and, shortly 
afterwards, to that of pay-sergeant, in the same regiment. 
The post of pay-sergeant is certainly one of importance^ 
and he who holds it a personage of no small consideration. 
He feeds and clothes the men ; lends them money at 
moderate interest, and on good secuniy : and sells them 
watches and seals, on credit, at a price somewhat above 
what they cost, to be sure, but the m€re sight of which^ 
dangling from a man's fob, has been known to gain him 
the character of a sober stf ady fellow, and one that should 
be set down for promotion. Thus, at least, good may 
sometimes be educed Ihim evil ; and, as it is not my 
intention to enter into a detail of the chicanery practised 
among the minor ranks in the army, let it suffice that I 
never served in a company in which every individual 
could not buy, sell, exchange, lend, and borrow, on terms 
peculiar to themselves. 

Shortly after my promotion, an order arrived for the 
two flank companies of the regiment to proceed to join 
Ihe army>,then in the field, with all possible speed. We 
were to proceed by land, the distance about twelve hun ■ 



1 



JIEMOIKS of JOHN SHIPl*. 65 

ilred miles, and the season winter. Every hand was 
busily engaged in making the necessary preparations for 
the journey, equipping ourselves as lightly as possible ; 
when an unfortunate misunderstanding occurred, which 
was but too- likely, not only to prevent our journey, but 
to put an end to some of our lives. 

On the arrival of troops at Fort William, it had been 
the custom to stop from each soldier of his majesty's army, 
eight rupees ; but for what purpose, strange to say, they 
were never told. This deduction had been made from the 
pay of our two companies without any explanation ; and, 
as the men were now proceeding on active service, it was 
but right and natural that they should desire to know (as 
we had been accustomed m the regiment), why any part 
of this pay was withheld from tlem. They called upon 
their officers for explanation, who were as much in the 
dark as themselves. The greater part of the two compa- 
nies then marched, in a sober deliberate manner, towards 
Major-General Sir Hughen Bailey's quarters, to seek re- 
dress. Here they were given to understand that the sum 
of eight rupees was customary to be stopped from each 
soldier, to insure him a decent burial. This explanation 
only added fuel to flame, and excited in the hearts of the 
men (few of whom, poor fellows ! ever wanted burial, as 
will be seen in the sequel of this narrative), the most bit- 
ter rancour against such a custom. The men returned to 
the barracks ; liquor was resorted to to feed the spark 
already kindled in their bosoms ; till at length they became 
bent upon open rebellion and mutiny. This spirit of dis- 
affection was manifested most strongly in the grenadier 
company. Both companies were doatingiy fond of their 
officers, who took great pains to explain to them that vio- 
lent measures, and taking the law into their own hands, 
would never be likely to get their wrongs redressed ; but 
that, on the contrary, those very acts deprived them of the 
power of interceding for them, and explaining to the pro- 
per authorities the grounds of their complaints. This 
timely explanation had its due effect, and we, one and all 
(I mean the Light Company), said, '' March us before the 
enemy, that we may wipe away this our first disobedi= 
ence ;" but those who had drankdeeper of the poisoaou& 

a* 



i6 MEMOIRS OF JOHJS SHIPP. 

cup of rebellion, in the Grenadier Company, were still un- 
appeased and spreading wide the infectious sparks of 
mutiny ; so much so, that the officers were again called in 
to quell them. Their colonel they loved dearly ; he was 
a father to his men ; the adjutant they hated. On the arri- 
val of the former, the men became passive, and the tumult 
was hushed ; but, when the latter appeared, the shouting 
of, ''Kick him out!"— ''Turn him out!" resounded 
through the barracks, and he had a narrow escape for his 
life. When he had left, the tumult again ceased : the meri 
retired to their cots ; and, in an hour, all was silent as the 
grave. The next mornmg the eight rupees were refunded ;■ 
and, on the morning following, we Jeft the fort, with the 
band of the regiment playing us through Calcutta, where 
we were met and hailed by all assembled. Every face 
smiled witiv joy ; every breast beat high for glory. The 
country through which we passed was fertile and well in- 
habited ; plenty smiled around, ard all seem.ed peace and 
contentment. Here presided English justice ; the Pariah 
cottager was protected in his reed-ihatched hovel, and the 
ploughman was seen smiling over his nodding crops. We 
lived like fighting-cocks; thought nothing of five or six 
and twenty miles a day ; every face wore the smile of con- 
tentment ; all were healthy ; and the merry song and story 
beguiled some of oi^r more dreary night-marches. Thus 
merrily we reached the army, our marches averaging 
twenty-six miles a day. We were met some miles from 
camp by his Excellency Lord Lake, the Commander-in- 
Chief, who said he was delighted to see us. At this flat- 
tering greeting of the Commander-in-Chief, we gave 
three cheers, in which his lordship and staff heartily 
joined us. I must confess I felt at this moment sensa- 
tions J was a stranger to before ; a kind of elevation of 
soul indescribable, accompanied by a conciousness that 
I could either have laughed heartily or cried bitterly^ 
Nearer camp we were met and greeted by nearly the 
whole European army. Such shouting and huzzaing 
I never heard, nor could I have imagined that the mind of 
man could be worked up to such a height of feehng. Eo3* 
myself, 1 could not help dropping a tear,^ — for what, I 
cannot tell ; but so it was. On reaching the general ho^^ 



MEMOIRS OP JOHN SHIP?. §7 

pital, we saw many men without legs, some without arms, 
others with their heads tied up ; and it was a most affect- 
ing sight to behold these poor wounded creatures waving 
their shattered stumps, and exerting their feeble frames, t© 
greet us warmly as we passed along. The scene that 
followed would beggar description : drinking, dancing, 
shouting, that made the Byannah Pass echo again ! Read- 
er, believe me when I assure you that in those days I 
knew not, as I said before, the taste of spirituous liquors ; 
consequently, I did not jcin in these bacchanalian orgies, 
but reconnoitred the camp, which, to my spirits, was far 
more exhilarating than the jovial cup. Three days restored 
us to some kind of order and discipline, and ail went oii 
smoothly. 

Hoolkah, a native Pindaree, was at this time in full 
force, with about sixty ihousand horse, and twenty-five 
thousand infantry, encarrped a short distance from us, ever 
on the alert to watch our movements, and supported by 
Ameerkhan, and other self-created Rajahs. From the 
very nature of this service, against a flying enemy, tho- 
roughly acquainted with the localities of the country, we 
had but little chance of coming up with them. Any thing 
like a general engagement they studiously avoid ; plunder 
only is their aim. In this way they pay themselves, giving 
their chiefs any great article of value that may fall into 
their hands ; that is to say, if they are known to have it. 
Their wives are excellent horse-women, and many of them 
good shots with the matchlocks, and active swords- women. 
They are always mounted on the best horse, and it is not 
an unusual thing for them to carry one child before thqm 
and another behind, at full speed. The Pindaree horse- 
men (and indeed all horsemen in India) have a decided 
advantage over the English. Their horses are so taught 
that they can turn them right round for fifty times without 
the horse's moving his hind legs from the same circle, or 
pull them up at full speed instantaneously. Our horses 
are heavy, fat, and quite unmanageable with the bit ; it 
takes them as long to get round as a ship ; and you can- 
not pull them up under ten or twenty yards. Some of 
their horsemen have spears seventeen feet in length, which 
they handle in so masterly a style that singly they are 
dangerous persons to have any thing to say to j but I have 



6B MEMOIES OF JOHN SHlPF. 

frequently seen Lord Lake charge, with hisbody-guaLrdya 
whole column of them, and put them to the rout. 

A few days after our arrival, we moved on towards Jey- 
pore, these plundering rascals riding close by us, manceti" 
vring on our flanks^ and giving us a shot now and then, to 
let us know they wished to he neighbourly. On one of 
these occasions it nearly cost me my life. We were in 
column on one side of a field, near some high corn 
called juwar, about half a nuile from our column on the 
other side of the field. 1 had at this time the fastest pony 
in India, called Apple, on which I rode on a head to the 
extreme end of the field, to have a shot at the head of their 
line of march ; for which imprudence my own life was 
nearly the forfeit, lor round the corner i came almost in 
contact with about a hundred of the enemy. 1 soon 
wheeled round, and galloped back again as fast as my 
pony could carry me • they fired al me fifty or sitxy shots, 
not one of which touched me. Ever after, 1 kept a little 
more withm bounds. 

We had frequent skirmishes with detached parties, kill 
jng numbers with our six- pounders ; but we could not 
come up with them. We therefore made our way towards 
Muttra, a great haunt for the Pindarees, where we lay 
for some time, trying to surprise them ; but they were ever 
on the watch, as the ratlhng of our swords might be heard 
a mile off. Tired of this service, we took possession of 
the town of Muttra, driving them out. Here we had glo- 
rious plunder — shawls, silks, matins, klsemkaubs, money. 
&c. ; and some of the men made a good thing of it. I 
was not idle ; but an untoward circumstance for a time 
delayed my exertions :— 1 was quartered in a large square 
or Rajah's palace, and had to ascend several flights of steps 
to get at anything worth notice. All the way up this stair- 
case were little iron plated doors, locked with several 
locks. As Paul Pry says, I thought this ^' rather myste- 
rious ;" I therefore commenced locksmith and knocked oil 
the locks, when 1 found the room full of bales of silk and 
shawls. I had just removed one of the largest bales from 
the top, and was in the very act of walking off with it, 
when, on turning round, a most brilliant eye met mine, set 
in one of the most hideous heads I had ever beheld. What 
monster this could be I could not first imagine, nor^id I 



MEMOIRS OF JOHN SHIPP. 60 

stop very long to consider, but marched off rather precipi- 
tately with my prize ; being at the moment more frighten- 
ed than I was willing to confess, even to myself. On 
reflection, 1 was ashamed of my fears ; so, having '' screw- 
ed my courage to the stick ing-post,'' in I marched again, 
with a drawn sword in my hand, and having convinced 
myself, by a second peep, that my friend with the glaring 
eyes was no other personage than one of the Gods Maha- 
dooh, 1 saluted him with a cut across his face for taking 
up his quarters in that solitary place, and took the iibertj 
of making free with all the silks and shawls under his pro- 
tection. A short time after, we returned to quarters at 
Cawnpore, to spend the produce of our short campaign, 
Hoolkah having retired to a distant part of India, to his 
winter quarters. 

Early in the following spring our active enemy was again 
in the field, and approaching the city of Delhi, where the 
inhabitants were not very well disposed towards us, and 
in which we had but a small force of native troops. We 
immediately marched, by forced marches, to their relief, 
and found Mr. Hoolkah had been besieging that plaee^ 
but that some two or three days before our arrival, he had 
raised the siege and crossed the river Jumna ; a neces- 
sary precaution on bis part, for our cavalry were lightly 
equipped. Colonel Burn, to his praise be it spoken, was 
marching from the opposite direction towards Delhi, for 
the succour of that place, with five companies of native 
infantry, when he unfortunately fell in with the Ivhole 
body of Hoolkah's cavalry, and, wonderful to say, be 
made his retreat good to S! amlee, a large town, fighting 
every inch of his way. There he took possession of a 
small gurry, or mud fort, for the space of six days, defend- 
ing himself against an immense body of the enemy, 
sufifering the most dreadful privations, and worn out by 
continual watching. The grand army crossed the Jumna^ 
to the rescue of Colonel Burn and his little band of native 
heroes, and in two days afforded him the succour he so 
much wanted, having, with this view, performed a dis- 
tance of eighty-four miles in forty-eight hours. NeveF 
shall I forget the cheenrfg of the handful of men on the 
ramparts of this Httle asylum. His lordship, to whom I 
was close, dropped the tear of sympathy when waving bis 



70 MEMOIRS OF JOHN SHIPf^ 

hat to them. I had that morning preceded the army foi 
the purpose of taking up the encampment, and on the 
approach of our advance-guard, some of the straggling 
enemy were seen loitering behind the main body, who had 
marched early that morning. We had two six-pounders 
with us, five troops oi his Majesty's 8th Light Dragoons, 
five troops of his Majesty's 24lh Drsgoons, with a regi- 
ment of Native Cavalry ; and we succeedf d in killing a 
few of these marauders, who were plundering and laying 
waste the whole country. "W'e could always trace their 
line of march by the dreadful destruction they had com 
mitted. Seme few sepoys were killed from the tops of 
the houses of Shamlee, many of which were higher than 
the littie tort. For this breach of ^ocd l»ith his lordship 
gave up the town to plunder. The scene that followed 
would take an abler pen than mine to describe — breaking 
open houses and boxes ; tearing open bales of shawls, 
silks, and satins ; and fighting hand to hand : the tumult 
is inconceivable to any one who h^s not witnessed such a 
scene. We marched the followii g morning, treading 
upon the heels of the enemy ; but, as they had a day's 
start of us, and their horses will go frc m fifty to sixty 
miles a day, it was impossible for us to come up with them. 
On our road we passed several villages that had been 
burned to the ground ; poor, naked, plundered creatures, 
men, women, and children ; burning corn-fields ; deadele- 
phants, camels, horses, and bullocks ; and the road was 
strewed with moah-berry, on which the\ teed their horses 
for the purpose of making them drunk, in which state it 
is incredible the astonishing distance they will go, though 
you can count their ribs a mile off. The rear-guardot 
the enemy generally kept their eye on our advanced- 
guard, detaching parties on each of our flanks, and, by 
way of amusement, giving us occasioDal.'V a shot. I re- 
collect, on one of these day's marches, a most impudent 
fellow, mounted on a beautiful horse and finely bedizened, 
came within two hundred yards of our column, passing 
upon us some unpleasant epithets, and once or twice firing 
bis matchlock. He at last wounded a man of the native 
cavalry. This so annoyed me that I asked his lordship if 
|j« would permit me attack him. His answer was, " O. 



MEMOIRS OF JOHN SIIIPP, 71 

n-Sver mind him, Shipp : we will catch him before he is a 
week older." I never in my life felt more inclined to 
disobey orders, for he was still capering close by us. An 
officer commanding one of the six-pounders, came up at 
the same time, and told his lordship that, if he would per- 
mit him, he would knock him over the first shot, or lose 
his commission. His lordship said, ^^ Well, try." At 
this moment the fellow fired his matchlock again, and im- 
mediately commenced reloading his piece.. Our gun was 
tinlimbered, laid, and fired ; the ball, striking the horse's 
i'ump, passed through the man's back, and the pabr 
animal's neck, and we said " So much for the Pin." 

We marched, on the average, about twenty-five miles 
a day ; but we were obliged to push our poor horses on 
even faster than this, for Hoolkah was making his way to 
Futtyghur, a small military station. This is a rich city ; 
and, no doubt, his inclination was to plunder and burn it. 
He arrived at Furrackabad, about three or four miles from 
the above station, the day before us, for the purpose of 
exacting money from the Rajah there. The little force 
at the station was withdrawn from the barracks, and 
placed for the protection of the mint, which had a short 
time before been established there. In the evening they 
arrived, and on the morning of the same day we marched 
upwards of twenty miles, halted till eight o'clock at night, 
then made ourselves as light as possible, and again moved 
on, intending to surprise them before daylight the follow- 
ing morning. We had twenty-v^ight miles to accomplish 
Isefore that time, and there is no doubt, from the judicious 
arrangement made for this attack, by his Excellency the 
Commander-in-Chief, that scarcely a man would have 
«3scaped us, had not a most unfortunate circumstance 
occurred, which was near destroying all our plans. An 
ammunition-tumbrel belonging to one of our six- pounders, 
from the rapid rate at which we were moving, blew up 
within half a mile of the enemy, who were buried in the 
arms of sleep, they having made a forced march, so 
as to prevent the possibility of our reaching them. This 
alarmed a few of those who happened to be awake ; but 
they supposed it the station-gun at Futtyghur. This sta- 
4ion-gun was really fired about ten minutes after, and 



72 MEMOIRS OF JOHN SHIPr. 

some of them got on the move ; but thousands of them 
were still asleep. I would recommend all officers who 
serve in India, to attack the enemy, if possible, in the 
night. At this time it often happens that not a single 
sentinel is to be found on the watch. This want of vigi- 
lance is to be attributed to their eating and smoking too 
much opium, a practice carried by them to such an excess, 
as completely to deaden their faculties ; from which, their 
stupor in sleep is so extraordinary, that if a gun were 
^red under a man's nose, he would scarcely have the 
power to awake. 

When the day dawned, they were surrounded, and a 
general attack commenced on all sides. Some were cut 
to pieces in their sleep, others in endeavouring to escape. 
The carnage became terrific ; his Majesty's 8th, 24th, and 
25th Dragoons, two regiments of native cavalry, and a 
corps of horse-aftillery, mowing them down with grape- 
shot in hundreds. About two thousand were left dead on 
the field, and, among the number, several poor tradespeo- 
ple from Furrackabad, who had come to the spot to sell 
their commodities. We pursued them many miles from 
the scene of action ; they, in their flight, burning the bar- 
racks and adjacent villages. The saTne evening, or the 
following morning, the enemy reached the station of 
Mainporee, a distance of seventy-two miles. At this sta- 
tion we had one native corps only ; but they were pre- 
pared to receive them. This little band took possession 
of the house of the judge (Mr. Cunningham), and de- 
fended themselves against Hoolkah's immense body of 
liorse. 

The battle of Furrackabad was on the 16th or 17th 
day of November, 1804^ after which the enemy shifted 
their course towards the Fort of Deig, the property of the 
Bhurtpore Rajah. In the neighbourhood were his infantry, 
about twenty-five thousand men, with upwards of a hun- 
dred pieces of cannon. Hoolkah little dreamt that, on 
the 13th of the same month, his infantry had met with a 
:?imilar defeat to that which his cavalry had experienced 
on the 1 6th. Major-General Frazer, with a small force, 
bad completely routed and defeated them, taking all their 
guns and stores. This action was at several intervals 



MEMOIRS OF JOHN SHIPP. 73 

extremely doubtful, our force being so inadequate to that oi 
the enemy. We had no European regiment there, except 
the Company's Eupopean regiment, and the 76th Foot, 
both corps not more than six or seven hundred men. The 
enemy sought protection under the walls of the fort, and, 
although our ally (the governor of the Fort of Deig) fired 
on our army, General Frazer, seeing the danger of a 
defeat, charged at the head of the 76ih, supported by the 
European regiment and native troops, and succeeded in 
driving them from their guns, and from the protection of 
the fort ; but, in the heat of the action, the gallant gene- 
ral received a ball in the foot, and was obliged to retire 
from the field. He died a short time afterwards. Colonel 
the Honourable W, Monson, on whom the command de- 
volved, completed his work, and a decisive victory was 
the result. Hoolkah, being informed of the disaster of 
his infantry, then shifted his course towards Bhurtpore, 
demanding immense sums of money from the Rajah, 
under threats of laying waste his country, which at that 
time might be called the garden of India. His encamp- 
ment was close under the walls of the fort, leaving a Dody 
of about two thousand men to harass and annoy us. 

About the 18th of December, we took up a position 
before the Fort of Deig, and in two days after broke 
ground against it. The two companies to which I be- 
longed led the column, carrying tools for working. The 
night was as dark as pitch, and bitterly cold. Secrecy 
was the great object of our mission, and we slowly ap- 
proached the vicinity of the fort, steering our course 
towards a small village about eight hundred yards from 
the spot, where we halted under shelter from their guns. 
Tiiis village had been set on fire two days before, and its 
inmates compelled to take shelter in the fort. Small 
parties were despatched in search of eligible ground for 
trenches, and within breaking-distauce. I was despatched 
alone through the desolate village, to see what was on the 
other side. I was yet but a novice in soldiering ; and, 
believe me, reader, I had no great fancy for this job ; but 
an order could not be disobeyed, so off I marched, my 
ears extended wide to catch the most distant sound. .1 
struck into a wide street, and. marchingt)n tiptoe, passed 

Vol. I.--7 



74 * MEMOIRS OF JOHN SHIPP. 

two or three poor solitary bullocks, who were dying for 
want of food. These startled me for the moment, but 
not another creature could I see. I at one time thought 
I heard voices, and that I could see a blue light burning 
on the fort, from which I inferred that I was getting pretty 
close to it. Just as I had made up ray mind that this must 
be the case, 1 distinctly heard a voice calling out, '* Khon 
hie .?" in English, " Who is there ?" I was rivetted to 
the spot, and could not move till the words were repeated ; 
when I stole behind one of the wings of a hut close on 
my right. Soon after, I heard the same man say, *' Quel 
tah mea ne decJcah;'^ which is, " I am sure I saw some- 
body." Another voice answered, ^^ Guddah, hogah;^' 
which signifies, " A jackass, I suppose ;" for there were 
several wandering about. I fully agreed with the gentle- 
man who spoke last ; but was determined to throw oft" 
the appellation as quickly as possible, by endeavouring to 
find my way back. In attempting to make my retreat 
with as little noise as possible, I put my foot into some 
lire. This compelled me to withdraw rather precipitately, 
and they heard me, when one of them said, '•'■ Hi quoi;^^ 
which is, " There certainly is somebody." The other 
replied, " Kis wastak nay tuckeet currah^^' — " Why don't 
you ascertain it, then ?" Hearing this, I dashed into 
another hut, and squatted myself down close, resolved, 
at least, to have a fight for it. A man passed the door 
of the hut twice ; but, at last, crying out, " Cally ek bin- 
grah bile hiCf'^ wHich signifies, " There is only one lame 
bullock," he rejoined his party. The attempt to steal 
away in so dark a night would have been impracticable ; 
I must infallibly have been heard. I resolved, therefore, 
to have a run for it, and ofiT I bolted, up the same street 
through which I had come, when a volley of Matchlocks 
was sent after me, but they did not attempt to follow ; at 
least, as far as I know, for I did not stop to look behind 
me. I arrived safe at the division, not a little frightened : 
and I can venture to say that (the elephant aff"air excepted), 
I never ran so fast before in my life. This afterwards 
proved to be a strong cavalry piquet. 

We at last took possession of the village, and established 
a depot there, ^d a rising ground about two or three hurt- 



MEMOIRS OF JOHN SHIPP. 75 

(Ired yards from it was the spot selected for our batteries. 
We were at first heard, when the fort qommenced a heavy 
firing, but in the wrong direction. Every man was em- 
ployed in digging a sufficient space to lie down in, and, in 
the course of a couple of hours, we were covered and 
protected from their shot. We then erected batteries ; 
and, by daylight in the morning, every thing was finished, 
and we were so close to the enemy that we could distinctly 
hear English spoken,* and the reveillee beaten. 

On Christmas eve, as dark and cold a night as ever 
blew from the heavens, the breach was reported practica- 
ble, and the rising of the moon was a signal for marching 
to the storm. She did rise, in splendid effulgence, over 
one of the highest bastions of the fort we were about to 
storm ; and we could see, by her light, spears on the ram- 
parts as thick as plants in a new-set forest. We were now 
and then saluted with a solitary gun from the fort, to let 
us know they were not asleep ; blue lights were seen 
burning on their ramparts, and they occasionally indulged 
us with a rocket or two, which played beautifully in the air= 

The soldiers, seeing I was a spirited youth, and a com- 
petitorivith them for glory, gave me a'few salutary hints, 
especially an " old veteran" of the 76th Foot, who had 
been then fighting about twenty years in the East Among 
the hints he gave me were these: 1st. Never to pass a 
man lying down, or supposed to be dead, withbut giving 
him the point of the bayonet or sword ; for it was a com- 
mon trick of theirs to lay themselves down on your ap- 
aproach, and then to watch the opportunity of cutting yow 
down. _2d. Whenever 1 saw a rocket, or shell, fall near 
me, to get as close to it as possible, and lay myself flat 
on my face. This was undoubtedly very excellent advice ; 
but I soon got tired of killing dead men, and lying down 
every time I saw a rocket ; the having neglected to do 
which, on one occasion, however, nearly cost me my life, 
which I shall mention in its proper place. 



* The English, which we were confident we heard spoken on this occa- 
sion, was, no doubt, by a drummer who had deserted from the 76th regi- 
ment, and who was afterward found dead in the fort. 



76 MEMOIRS OP JOHN SHIPP. 

The storming party consisted of about seven hundred 
men, composed of two companies of his Majesty's 22d lle> 
giment, two of the Company's European regiments, and 
the rest Native troops, the whole under the command of 
Colonel Ball, a brave old hero, but so feeble, that he was 
obliged to be pushed up the track of glory. The two flank 
companies to which I belonged led the column. Sergeant 
Bury, of the Grenadier Company, headed the foremost ; 
but, being wounded at the moment, he was compelled to 
leave the battery. I volunteered to take his place. The 
enemy had a strong intrenchment between our. batteries 
and the breach, with innumerable guns, so placed as to have 
a cross fire on the storming party. However, we soon 
fought our way through their intrenchments, — K)ur gallant 
Captain (Lindsay) cheering, and boldly leading us on. 
Crossing these trenches, this brave officer wat* cut with a 
spear in the arm, and also received a severe wound from a 
sabre ; but his gallantry and zeal were so great, that he 
could not be prevailed upon to retire from the scene of 
action. A little on our right I saw some of the enemy 
point a gun at us. Immediately, with three or four com- 
rades, I rushed out to spike it : for which purpose, I was in 
the act of searching for the touchhole, to put a nail in it, 
when one of the enemy's gollandauze (artillery-men) fired 
the gun off, and I was thrown on my b ick in the trench, 
and the same man was in the act of cutting me to pieces, 
when a grenadier of our company, named Shears, shot 
hira, and I once more escaped. Fortunately for us, the 
whole of the enemy's great guns were elevnted too much, 
owing to which the shots passed over our heads. If they 
had been properly directed, we must have been annihilated 
to a man. VVithin fifty or sixty paces from the breach, I 
received a matchlock ball in the head, which dropped me 
to the ground, the blood flowing profusely. When I came 
a little to myself from the stun, 1 found myself impelled on- 
ward by one of our companies, who were close together, 
and running stooping to avoid the shots, which, being neat 
the breach, were uncomfortably thick ; but we reached, 
and soon planted the British flag on the summit of the has 
tion, which was breached. Our opponents fought hard to. 
resist our entrance, throwing immense stones, pieces of 



MEMOmS OF JOHN SHIPP. 77 

trees, stink-pots,* bundles of straw set on fire, spears, 
large shots, &c. ; but resistance was in vain : we were de- 
termined to conquer. In spite of this laudable resolution, 
however, we found some hard work cut out for us on mak- 
ing good our ascent. The streets in the fort were nar- 
row, running across each other, and every ten yards guns 
were placed, for the purpose of raking the whole streets. 
Added to this, many of the enemy had got into high houses, 
in which there were loop-holes, from which they could fire 
down upon us, without the possibility of our getting at 
them. Near the corner of a street, in a kind of nook, I 
saw our dear Captain Lindsay attacked by five or six of 
the enemy. He was on one knee, and quite exhausted, 
having lost much blood from his former wounds ; but, to 
our great joy, we were just in time to save hini, and punish 
some of his assailants. From the intricacy of the place, we 
were afraid of shooting our own men, and were therefore 
obliged to keep pretty close together. At midnight, I 
again met captain Lindsay, clearing one of the streets, 
when he asked me how I felt myself. I complained of a 
wound in my side, but said that I could find no hole ; 
but this was not a time for talking. In turning sharp down 
a street rather larger than those we had cleared, we met a 
column of the enemy, with a person of rank in a palan- 
quin. We soon stopped his black Highiiess ; and, to as- 
certain who was inside the palanquin (which was an open 
one), I, with several others, probed our way with our bayo- 
nets, when a tremendous fat Zemindar (an officer) roared 
out most lustily, and began to show fight. He fired a 
matchlock at me, which went through the wing of my coat, 
but did not touch my person. Before I could retaliate, 
my comrades had finished him, and we then commenced 
at the column ; but I took from the palanquin the gun 
which had nearly robbed me of life. It was like the bar- 
rel of a gun, about two feet long, with a round handle ; at 
the handle-end was a sharp hatchet, — at the other extremity 
a sharp hook. This extraordinary instrument I presented 

♦ As this term occurs here for the first time, and may appear to be .. 
somewhat unseemly, it may be well that the polite reader should be in- 
formed, that it is commonly used in the aruiy, and means a ressel filled 
with combustibles, tar, brimstone, &c. 

7* 



iMf^ 



78 MEMOIRS OF JOHN SHIPF. 

to the comraander-in-chief ; but he refused the present 
saying it was my trophy. His lordship was afterwards pre 
vailed on to purchase it, at the price of (wo hundred ru- 
pees. We at this lime got information that the five com- 
panies which had deserted from the Honourable Colonel 
Monson, in his masterly retreat from Jeypore, were stand- 
ing, dressed in the full uniform they deserted in, outside 
the principal gate of the fort, with their arms ordered^ 
without apparently making any resistance, and frequently 
crying out, " Englishmen, Englishmen, pray do not kill 
•as; for God's sake, do not kill us." As these supplications 
proceeded rather from fear than from penitence for the 
crime they had been guilty of — that of deserting to an ene- 
my — these men could expect no mercy. We had positive 
orders to give them no quarter, and they were most of 
them shot. 

About three o'clock, when I was completely tired and 
done up, 1 took my station under the gable end of a brick 
building, and began to examine the extent of my wounds. 
The one on the head was a bad one, having touched the 
skull ; it was about two inches long, and one broad, and 
I was a little alarmed for the consequences. Tiie wound 
which I supposed I had received in the side, was nothing 
more than the wind of a cannon-ball, which it was thought 
must have passed between my arm and side. It was quite 
black, and much swoln, and on its margin there appeared 
red streaks, which convinced the doctors that it was caused 
as before stated. I felt it for months afterwards. The 
wound in my head had been so long exposed to the night 
air, that, on examination by the medical gentlemen, it was 
pronounced to be a dangerous one ; but, with an excellent 
constitution, and youth on my side, I soon recovered. 

The killed found next morning exceeded the number 
of our storming-party. We had but few killed, but a great 
number v/ounded. Poor Sergeant Bury found his way in, 
wounded as he was, before the whole company had en- 
tered, and fought hard the whole night. Early in the 
morning he was looking over the parapet of the fort, when 
a cannon-ball struck him on the back, and killed him on 
the spot, — otherwise he would have been rewarded with a 
commission ; but such is the fate of war ! The taking of 



MEMOIRS OF JOHN SHIPP. 7^ 

this small redoAt was but a preparatory and necessary 
step before we commenced a regular siege against the 
strong fort, and ecfually strong town, both of which, how- 
ever, they gave up, being fully satisfied of the impossibility 
of holding either. 



CHAPTER Vir, 

I WAS obliged to nurse myself a little, as the strong fort oi 
Bhurtpore .was, we understood, to be our next job. Hav- 
ing but in part Jed the last party in, I became a volunteer 
to lead the Forlorn Hope at Bhurtpore. This offer his 
Excellency, Lord Lake accepted, with encomiums on 
my zeal, and a promise that, if I escaped, I should have a 
commission. We arrived before this place about the 29th 
day of December ; encamped about two miles from it ; 
and immediately commenced our operations against it. 
Hoolkah was lying under its walls, w^ith his immense body 
of cavalry, who committed every kind of cruelty on the 
camp-followers that fell into their hands, such as cutting 
off their hands from the first joint of the wrist, cutting off 
their noses, ears, (fee. ; but seldom killing them out-right. 

During the preparation for the siege, when off duty, I 
amused myself with going out to the advanced piquets, 
where there were continual skirmishes with Hoolkah's 
cavalry, who were always loitering about, day and night. 
On one of these occasions, I nearly paid dear for my im- 
prudence. I ventured far beyond the piquet, in hopes of 
picking off a fellow who was showing off his horseman- 
ship. As I was mounted on a good horse, and was well 
armed, I rode after him, gaining ground fast ; but, on 
looking behind, 1 found myself a considerable distance 
from the piquet, and that several horsemen had got 
between me, to prevent my return. To have run away 
would have given them encouragement ; no other remedy 
was*Ieft but to dash through them. Our piquet^ seeing 



80 MEMOIRS OF JOHN SHIPP. 

my situation, got a six-pounder, and fired a long shot ai 
them. During the consternation caused by the ball 
striking near them, and smothering them in dust, I made 
the best use of my horse's legs, got safe to the piquet, 
and never ventured so liar from home again. 
- On the 1st day of January, 1805, we broke ground 
against this strong fortress and town. I was again on 
the working party, my wound being nearly closed. We 
halted near a wood, and a party having been sent on to 
reconnoitre, we at last pitched upon a place, and com- 
menced our nocturnal labours. We had not been, at 
v;ork ten minutes, when they heard our working-tools, 
and commenced a most terrific cannonade. We were 
ordered to desist, and to lie down behind the earth we 
had thrown up, which, fortunately for us, was of a suffi- 
cient thickness to be musket-ball proof, or we must have 
sufl?ered dreadfully ; for their little rough iron balls flew 
about as thick as bees. The cannon-shot were generally 
high : some that fell short, rolled, and were brought up 
by our little mound of defence. They kept it up glori- 
ously for half an hour, conceiving that we intended to 
take them by surprise ; but, from the reports of this for- 
tress containing 100,000 soldiers, and the enormous sum 
of nineteen croer of rupees, our orders were to approach 
it by a regular siege. 1 fear I shall be thought rather 
tedious in relating the disastrous events at this place ; but 
we must take the gall with the honey. The firing having 
ceased, except at intervals, we re-commenced our labours ; 
and glad indeed were we to set blood again on the move. 
The night was bitterly cold, and the ground damp ; but 
we kept ourselves in exercise with our work, and by day- 
light we had completed our trenches, and four-gun 
breaching-battery, within five hundred yards of the town 
wall. The moment the day dawned, our night's work 
was. observed. The fort was again in a blaze ; — flags 
were hoisted;— the parapet of the town wall was one 
general mass of spears and little flags, as far as the eye 
could reach ; and the heads of soldiers studded the ram- 
parts with variegated colours,— their turbans being gene- 
rally of the most prominent dyes, — red, yellow, and pink. 
Such shouting, roaring of cannon, whistling of shot 



,jiiM| 



MEMOIRS OF JOHN SHIPP. 8| 

grumbling of rockets, and waving of flags and spears, 
made me reflect for a moment on the folly of having ever 
sold my '' leathers," to participate in such a scene ; but 
this thought was soon buried in the shouts of defiance 
from our trenches. We did not show hands, as we had 
none to spare ; but as we were, of course, anxious to see 
what kind of a place this said Bhurtpore was, we took 
every opportunity of peeping, whenever we saw a gun 
fired, crying out, '* Shot," which was a signal to bob our 
heads. On the firing subsiding in the slightest degree, 
we continued our work, and at length completed our bat- 
teries and magazines, and widened our trenches to seven 
feet, leaving just sufficient room to pass and repass, so 
as to communicate with our principal depot under shelter. 
During the whole of this day, the enemy kept up an 
almost incessant fire, both with great guns and small 
arms, and we had some few men wounded. A soldier 
of the Light Company, named Murphy, stood upon the 
bank, exposing himself, and drawing upon us the fire 
from the fort. Some of us remonstrated with him on his 
imprudence, when Paddy coolly replied, '' Never fear, 
honey ; sure 1 have got my eye on them ; and, if they 
kill me, bad luck to me if I don't be after paying them 
for it when I get into that same fort." In the course of 
the day he was shot in the finger for his disregard of our 
advice, which, he said, was "just because he was looking 
another way at the time." 

In the evening we got our guns into battery, erecting 
two small batteries of twelves and sixes. A constant 
fire was kept up by the enemy during the night, and blue 
lights were to be seen at intervals, as though to inform 
us that they were on the watch. From the debauched 
habits of the Musselmen, in any situation of life, they 
seldom retire to rest till very late ; and then, indeed, so 
stupified with eating and smoking auffeem, (opium,) that 
they are incapable of being roused to any active duty. 
From their constant use of this intoxicating drug, they 
are dull companions when the spirit is absorbed and dead 
within them ; but, when revived, I know no set of people 
more talkative, communicative, and jovial. Often have I 
listened with delight to an old Musselman soldier's rela- 



82 MEMOIRS OF JOHN SHIP!'. 

tion of his campaigns and stories. We heard drums and 
music the whole night, now and then accompanied by 
the inharmonious roar of their guns. The guns used in 
India by the natives are of cast iron ; but, from their 
using ball beat out instead of cast, the guns labour and 
roar dreadfully, and the rough surface of their balls tears 
the muzzles to pieces. 

When the morning bestrewed its bright rays abroad, 
we threw a little farther hght upon the subject, by open- 
ing our breaching-battery with a salvo, accompanied with 
such terrific cheering and shouting, as seemed to startle 
the new-risen sun, which at that identical moment peeped 
from behind its golden curtains to see what was the 
matter. The enemy, after a moment's pause, were seen 
in a tremendous bustle, mustering their full force ; and 
their heads were so thick, that, had our shelling-battery 
been ready, we might have made dreadful havoc among 
the motley group. They shouted, yelled, screamed, 
groaned ; small arms whistled, cannons roared ; and, in 
an instant, the fort was enveloped in smuke. It was 
altogether a most terrific scene. At this moment a 
soldier called out, " Shipp, have you made your will ?" 
I said, '^ Yes ; which is, that I will lead you into that fort 
undaunted, for all their smoke and rattle." — "Well 
done, Jack !" said one ; " That 's a hearty !" said 
another ; and many a joke followed : but, to confess the 
truth, I thought it no joking matter, but wished most 
earnestly that I could say with Macbeth, " 1 have done 
the deed." Notwithstanding this, I saw no cause for 
fretting. Without parents, or ties of any other kind, I 
felt that I was fully justified in acting — 

'' i^s if a man were author of himself, 
Ami knew no other kin." 

My ambition was to signahze myself in the field of 
honour ; and, if it was to lie my fate to fall, I consoled 
myself with the reflection, that I could not die in a better 
cause than fighting for my king and country. These 
were my real feelings, but the business that was going on 
during the whole of this day afforded me but little time 



MEMOIRS OF JOHN SHIPP. S3 

for reflection. Towards evening, however, we were re- 
lieved from the trenches, and obtained some rest. 

The next day I took another peep at the Pins, who 
were in immense numbers in front of our piquets. My 
fingers itched to be among them, but my last escape 
withheld me. U was truly tantalizing to see these fellows 
chuckering their horses not more than a quarter of a mile 
from our post ; but what irritated us still more was, that 
these miscreants, that evening, sent into our camp about 
twenty grass-cutters, belonging to the 8th Dragoons, 
some with their right arms cut off by the wrist-joint, and 
others with the loss of their noses and ears. These poor 
creatures paid dearly for their disobedience of general 
orders, which forbade any grass-cutter from going out 
alone ; but, for the love of plunder, they will at all times 
risk their lives. It will appear scarcely credible to the 
general reader, when he is informed, that to every fighting 
man in an Indian army, there are at least ten camp-fol~ 
lowers. The majority of these live by plundering the 
adjacent villages round the camp and on the march ; 
robbing every hut and field within ten miles round. 
There is no possibility of checking them, or preventing 
these abuses. Among these fellows are thieves of every 
description, and the most notorious are jugglers. They 
commence their nocturnal pilferings in a state of nudity, 
oiling themselves all over to prevent their being held if 
caught ; they then creep on their hands and feet like 
dogs, and frequently imitate them in barking and howHng, 
as well as most other animals, more particularly goats, 
sheep,~and asses. In the course of my narrative, I shall 
have occasion to mention several instances of this nature 
that happened to myself. 

On the following morning, I went again on duty in the 
trenches. We retired into the wood before mentioned; 
which had a path of communication with the trenches, 
though it was a considerable distance from the grand 
breaching-battery. Our operations against the fort con- 
tinued active and resolute ; but our balls made but little 
impression upon the mud bastions and curtains. Many 
of them scarcely buried themselves, and others rolled down 
into the under-works of the enemy, and were kindly sent 



84 MEMOIRS OF JOEN SHI PP. 

back to us. It is almost folly to attempt to effect a 
practicable breach in a fort built of such materials. The 
crust you knock off the face of a bastion or curtain, forms 
a great barrier to your approach to a solid footing. Young 
engineers are too apt to judge, from the appearance of the 
fallen mud, that the breach is practicable ; when, the first 
step the storming-party takes, they find they rfhk up to 
their necks in light earth. A woful instance of this nature 
J shall have to advert to more particularly in the course of 
my narrative ; and, if it prove a timely hint to the inex- 
perienced, 1 shall be rewarded. Stone forts are soon de* 
molished ; when undermined well at the bottom, the top 
will soon follow, and they cannot easily be repaired : but 
mud forts defy human power. 

We this day erected howetzer and mortar-batteries, and, 
when they first opened, they struck terror and conster- 
nation into the enemy, who fled in every direction, to 
avoid those destructive engines : but, in a few hours, they 
dug holes in the ramparts, which they got into whenever 
they saw those unwelcome visiters on the wing ; and, un- 
less the shell happened actually to fall on them, they 
escaped in this way. But our shelling in those days was 
a mere bagatelle to what it is now. A shell in five min- 
utes, was then enormous ; now, twenty in one minute is 
by no means extraordinary, and these twice as big as in 
the times of which f speak. 

This day the enemy was pretty passive ; no doubt 
making places of refuge. Our shells, if thrown further 
into the town, must have been most destructive, for the 
population was evidently prodigious, from the number of 
fighting men. The houses frequently appeared on fire, 
and several small explosions took place daily ; no doubt, 
small magazines. 'I'hese little incidents generally created 
cheering by the besiegers, and redoubled firing by the ene- 
my. In the course of the day we saw the Rajah for the 
first time : he was on the shabroodge, or royal bastion, 
with his suite, reconnoitreing with a spy-glass. The offi- 
cer commanding the howetzer battery laid a shell for the 
shabroodge, which struck the very top of it, and soon dis- 
lodge his highness and suite. In a moment, not a soul 
ivas to be seen. On this bastion was an enormous gun. 



MEMOIRS OF J0I13S SHIPP, ii 6 

about a seventy-two- peunder, which before had been laid 
up in embryo, but which, as a mark of revenge for our 
having disturbed his highness, was now got ready. From 
its gigantic size they could not depress it sufficiently to 
bear upon our batteries, or it must have torn them to 
pieces. At last off tt went ; the report was like that of ai] 
earthquake, but the ball went a good quarter of a mile over 
us. Several other shots were, in the course of the day, 
fired from it, but the balls never came nearer. Our sol- 
diers, finding it did no harm, christened it Civil Tom ; but, 
from the enormous dust it kicked up, the enemy thought 
it did wonders for some time ; until, at last, finding out 
their mistake, they turned its gigantic muzzle towards 
camp, and actually threw a ball close to the flag opposite 
Lord Lake's tent, more than two miles from the fort. 
The only real mischief Civil Tom ever did (which, by the 
by, was rather uncivil) was killing a poor water-carrier'? 
bullock, and carrying away the poor man's right arm. 
This was moreihan a mile from camp. 

The night passed away without anything of moment. 
we still keeping up a regular and constant fire (to prevent 
the enemy from rebuilding what we had had so mucli 
trouble in knocking down), and at times indulging them 
v/ith a few whistling shells, to keep them awake. 

We now began to grow irapatientto see what was inside 
this boasting fort, for we had pretty well seen what was 
outside. The breach soon began to wear a stormable 
appearance, when we discovered that they had thrown out 
two small guns for tlie purpose of a cross fire and cutting 
off our storming party, and to annoy and rake our breach 
ing-battery. For removing this evil we threw out tv/c 
six-pounders, and we had not fired many shots and givei* 
them more than a dozen shrapnells, when a tremendous 
explosion took place, which finally removed the anBoy- 
ance. 

In the evening 1 heard the head engineer say to Captain 
Nelley, commanding the breaching-battery, that he ima- 
gined we should on the following evening put a stop to their 
vaunting. ''The next evening 1" I muttered to myselfi 
I was standing close to Captain Nelley, who turned round 
to me and said, 'SShipp, how do you like that infor^ 

Vol. L— 8 



8Q MEMOIKS OF JOHN 6HIPP. 

mation ?" I replied, '*I wish it was this night, sir." Tliig 
I did wish most sincerely, for I felt that, having once 
resolved to undertake the desperate service in which I had 
volunteered, the sooner I was in action the better : 

*« Between the acting: of a dreadful tiling, 
And the first motion, al! the inlerira is 
Like a phantasrae, or a hideous dream ; 
The genius and the mortal instruments 
Are then in council ; and the state of rnaHj 
Like to a little kingdom, suiTers then 
The nature of an insurrection." 

I have heard some men say that they would as soon 
fight as eat their breakfasts, and others, that they " dearly 
loved fighting." If this were true, what blood-thirsty 
dogs they must be ! But I should be almost illiberal enough 
to suspect these boasters of not possessing even ordinary 
courage. 1 will not, however, go so far as positively to 
assert this, but will content myself by asking these terrific 
soldiers to account to me why, some hours previously to 
storming a fort, or fighting a battle, are men pensive, 
thoughtful, heavy, restless, weighed down with appa- 
rent solicitude and care ? Why do men on these occa- 
sions more fervently beseech the divine protection and 
guidance to save them in the approaching conflict ? Are 
not all these feelings the result of reflection, and of man's 
regard for his dearest care — his life, which no mortal will 
part with if he can avoid it ? There are periods in war 
which put man's courage to a severe test : if, for instance, 
as was my case, I knew I was to lead a forlorn hope on 
the following evening, innumerable ideas will rush in quick 
succession on the mind : such as, " for aught my poor 
and narrow comprehension can tell, 1 may to-morrow be 
summoned before my Maker." " How have I spent the 
life which he has been pleased to preserve to this period ? 
can I meet that just tribunal ?" A man, situated as I have 
supposed, who did not, even amid the cannon's roar and 
the din of war, experience anxieties approaching to what 
I have described, may, by possibility, have the courage of 
a lion, but he cannot possess the feelings of a man. In 
action man is quite another being : the softer feelings of 
tite roused heart are absorbed in the vortex of danger and 



MEMOIRS OF JOHN SHIPF. 8*? 

the necessity for self-preservation, and give place to others 
more adapted to the occasion, fn these moments there is 
an indescribable elation of spirits ; the soul rises above its 
wonted serenity into a kind of phrenzied apathy to the scene 
before you, a heroism bordering on ferocity ; the nerves 
become tight and contracted; the eye full and open, moving 
quickly in its socket, with almost maniac wildness ; the 
head is in constant motion ; the nostril extended wide, and 
the mouth apparently gasping. If an artist could truly deli- 
neate the features of a soldier in the battle's heat, and com- 
pare them with the lineaments of the same man in the 
peaceful calm of domestic life, they would be found to be 
two different portraits ; — but a sketch of this kmd is not 
within the power of art, for in action the countenance 
varies with the battle : as the battle brightens, so does the 
countenance ; and, as it lowers, so the countenance be- 
comes gloomy. I have known some men drink enormous 
quantities of spirituous liquors when going into action, to 
drive away little intruding thoughts, and to create false 
spirits ; but these are as short-hved as the ephemera that 
struggles but a moment on the crystal stream,— then dies. 
If a man have not natural courage, he may rest assured 
that liquor will deaden and destroy the little he may 
possess. 

Our two companies were relieved for the night, for the 
purpose of resting ourselves and preparing for the ensuing 
evening's attack. On this occasion one of our poor fel- 
lows was killed by a shot from the fort, and he was ordered 
to be immediately buried. When we were about to leave the 
trenches we found him still lying there, when the sergeant 
was called, and asked by his officer, why he had not been 
buried, according to orders. The sergeant, an Irishman, 
answered, — ' Faith ! your honour, he was grown so mighty 
stiff since he went dead, that he would neither ride nor 
walk ; he threw himself off my back twice ; but I am just 
after ordering a fatigue-party to march him there, whether 
he will or not." 

The same sergeant was chided a short time before for 
shooting an unarmed man. His officer told him it was a 
cowardly act to shoot a poor fellow without arms. " Arms ! 
your honour, I beg your honour's pardon, he had two j 



88 MEMOIRS OF JOHN SHIPP. 

ay, faith, and fists at the end of them ; and he was just 
after going to be mighty saucy besides. Besides, your 
honour, did not a spalpeen shoot at and hit me at Deig, 
without so much as bidding me the time of the morning, 
or by your lave or with your lave? Faii ! they must ex- 
pect no paiaveration or blarney from Dennis GafFen." To 
relate the anecdotes of this man would fill a volume ; but, 
as the two little ones mentioned may bear the reading, f 
will insert a few more in their proper places. 

I slept soundly, and early in the morning commenced 
cleaning and new-flinting my musket, and pointing my 
bayonet, that it might find its way through the thick cotton-i 
stuffed coats of our Enemies. All Mussulmen soldiers! 
wear these coats during winter. The cotton is about two^ 
inches thick, and the coats are worn rather loose, so that^ 
you can with difficulty cut through them ; and 1 am per- 
suaded that many of them are ball-proof, and that bayonets 
and spears are the only weapons against them. In the 
course of the day I walked down to the batteries, to well 
ascertain the road T had to take to the breaches. Our 
batteries continued, with unabated exertions, to knock off 
the defences ; and every thing, from appearances, seemed 
calculated to ensure complete success. My heart was all 
alive this day, and I wishftd for the sombre garments of 
Dight This was the 9th day of January, 1805. The 
greatest secrecy was observed as to the storming party ; 
ao general orders were issued, nor was there any stir or 
bustle till the hour appointed,^ — nine o'clock. Orders and 
arrangements were communicated to officers commanding 
regiments and companies, and in the same private manner 
conveyed to us. The gun fired as usual at eight o'clock. 
This was the signal to move out. I kissed and took leave 
of my favourite pony, x'^pple, and dog, Wolf, and I went 
to my post at the head of the column, with my little band 
of heroes, twelve volunteers from the different corps of 
the army. Reader, you may beheve me when I assure 
you, that at this critical juncture, every thing else was 
forgotten in (he enthusiasm of the moment, except the 
contemplation of tiie honourable post confided to me, 
• What!" thought I, <' I, a youth, at the head of an In- 
lian aimy !" I began to think it presumption, when so 



MEMOIRS OF JOHN SlJiri*. 5^ 

many more experienced soldiers filled the ranks behind. ] 
thought that every eye was upon me, and I did not regret 
the pitchy darkness of the night, which hid my blushing 
countenance. All was still as the grave, when I distinctly 
heard somebody call, "Sergeant Shippl" This was 
Lieut. -Colonel Salkeld, adjutant-general of the army, who 
brought with him a gollandauze, who had deserted from 
the fort, and Who, for filthy lucre, was willing to betray 
his countrymen. This man was handed over to me, he 
having undertaken to lead me to the breach. If he at 
tempted to deceive me, or to run from me, I had positive 
orders to shoot him ; consequently, I kept a sharp look- 
out on him. We then, in solemn silence, marched down 
to the trenches, and remained there about half an hour, 
when we marched to the attack in open columns of sec- 
lions, — the two flank companies of the 22d leading, sup- 
ported by the 75th and 76th European Regiments, and 
other Native infantry. I took the precaution of tying a 
rope round the wrist of my guide, that he might not es- 
cape ; for firing at him at that moment would have alarmed 
the fort. Not a word was to be heard ; but the cannon's 
rattling drowned many a deep-drawn sigh, from many as 
brave a heart. 

I was well supported, having my own two companies 
behind me. Colonel Maitland, of his Majesty's 7Gth 
Regiment, commanded this storming-party, and brave 
little Major Archibald Campbell his corps. The former 
ofl5cer came in front to me, and pointed out the road to 
glory ; but, observing the Native whom 1 had in charge? 
he asked who he was, and, on being informed, said, — " We 
can find the way without him ; let hnn go about his busi- 
ness." I remonstrated, and repeated to him the instruc- 
tions I had received ; but his answer was, — " I don't 
care ; if you don't obey my orders, I will send you to the 
rear." I did obey, and on we moved to the attack. Im- 
mediately behind me were pioneers, carrying gabions and 
fascines to fill up any cavities we might meet with. The 
enemy did not discover our approach till within fifty paces 
of the ditch, when a tremendous cannonade and peals of 
musketry commenced ; rockets were flying in ail di- 
blue lights were hoisted ; and the fort seemed 
8* 



90 MEMOIRS QF JOHN iSHIPP. 

convulsed to its very foundation. Its ramparts seemed 
like some great volcano vomiting tremendous volumes of 
fiery matter ; the roaring of tlie great guns shook the 
earth beneath our feet ; their small arms seemed like the 
rolling of ten thousand drums ; and their war-trumpets 
rent the air asunder. Men vi^ere seen skipping along the 
lighted ramparts, as busy as emmets collecting stores for 
the dreary days of winter. The scene was awfully grand, 
and must have been sublimely beautiful to the distant 
spectator. 

We pushed on at speed ; but were soon obliged to halts 
A ditch, about twenty yards wide, and four or five deepj 
branched off from the main trench. This ditch formed a 
small island, on which were posted a strong party of the 
enemy, with two guns. Their fire was well directed, and 
the front of our column suffered severely. The fascines 
and gabions were thrown in ; but they were as a drop of 
water in the mighty deep : the fire became hotter, and my 
little band of heroes plunged into the water, followed by 
our two companies, and part of the 75th Regiment. The 
middle of the column broke off, and got too far down to 
the left ; but we soon cleared the little island. At this 
time Colonel Maitland and Major Campbell joined me, 
with our brave officers of the two companies, and many 
of the other corps. I proposed following the fugitives ; 
but our duty was to gain the breach, our orders being con- 
fined to that object. We did gain it ; but imagine our 
surprise and consternation, when we found a perpendicular 
curtain going down to the water's edge, and no footing, 
except on pieces of trees and stones that had fallen from 
above. This could not bear more than three men abreast, 
and if they slipped (which many did), a watery grave 
awaited them, for the water was extremely deep here. 
Close on our right was a large bastion, which the enemy 
had judiciously hung with dead underwood. This was 
fired, and it threw such a light upon the breach, that it 
was as clear as noonday. They soon got guns to bear on 
us, and the first shot (which was grape) shot Colonel 
Maitland dead, wounded Major Campbell in the hip or 
leg, me in the right shoulder, and completely cleared the 
remaining few of my little party. We had at that moment 



MEMOms OF JOHN SHIPF. 91 

reached the top of the breach, not more (as I before 
stated) than three abreast, when we found that the enemy 
had completely repaired that part, by driving in large pieces 
of wood, stakes, stones, bushes, and pointed bamboos, 
through the crevices of which was a mass of spears job- 
bing diagonally, which seemed to move by mechanism. 
Such was the footing we had, that it was utterly impossible 
to approach these formidable weapons ; meantime, small 
spears or darts were hurled at us ; and stones, lumps of 
wood, stink-pots, and bundles of hghted straw, thrown 
upon us. In the midst of this tumult, I got one of my 
legs through a hole, so that I could see into the interior 
of the fort. The people were like a swarm of bees. In 
a moment I felt something seize my foot : I pulled with 
all my might, and at last succeeded in disengaging my leg, 
but leaving my boot behind me. Our establishing our- 
selves on this breach in sufficient force to dislodge this 
mass of spearsmen, was physically impossible. Our poor 
fellows were mowed down like corn-fields, without the 
slightest hope of success. The rear of the column suf- 
fered much, as they were within range of the enemy's 
shot. A retreat was ordered, and we were again obliged 
to take to the water, and many a poor wounded soldier lost 
his hfe in this attempt. Not one of our officers escaped 
without being wounded, and Lieutenant Creswell was 
almost cut to pieces. He, I believe, still lives in England, 
and, should this little story fall into his hands, he will read 
these events with as much regret as the narrator writes 
them. We, as may be supposed, returned almost broken- 
hearted at this our first failure in India. Our loss was a 
melancholy one, and the conviction that the poor wounded 
fellows we were compelled to leave behind would be bar- 
barously massacred, incited our brave boy.'j to beg a second 
attempt. This was denied : had it been granted, it must 
infallibly have proved abortive; for there was, literally, 
HD breach. The disastrous issue of our attack caused the 
enemy to exult exceedingly ; and the shouting and roaring 
that followed our retreat, were daggers in the souls of our 
wounded and disappointed soldiers, who were with diffi- 
culty restrained from again rushing t^o the breach. I found 
that I had received a spear- wound in the right finger, and 



92 MEMOIES OF JOHN SHIPP. 

several little scratches from the combustibles they fired at 
us. Pieces of copper coin, as well as of iron, stone, and 
glass, were extracted from the wounds of those who were 
fortunate enough to escape. We were, in the course of 
the night, reheved, and went to our lines to brood over 
our misfortunes. 

I found, the next morning, to add to my feelings of dis- 
tress, that the old wound in my head had opened afresh ; 
the wound on my shoulder, having injured the bone, was 
also extremely painful ; but that on my finger, being a 
flesh-wound, did not trouble me much. The general 
orders of the day following were highly flattering to us all, 
placing the blame, if any, where it ought to be. Our en- 
gineer, finding the spot we had attempted strong and im- 
practicable, changed his position more to the eastward j 
where the difficulties are not so formidable. During these 
new operations, our breachmg-guns, four in number, were 
sent to the park to be re-bushed, their bushes having been 
injured from the constant firing and heat. 

Thus ended our first attempt to take the strong fort of 
Bhurtpore by storm. Not to dwell longer on our painful 
failure, I will conclude this chapter with tlie introduction 
of two or three anecdotes, illustrative of the felicity of 
matrimony among the Irish soldiers. These may serve 
to divert the reader, during the repairing of our guns, 
and the erection of new batteries preparatory to a second 
attack. 

An Irish soldier once waited on his commanding officer 
with what he termed a very serious complaint : " Another 
man," he said, mentioning his name, " had upbraided him 
that he was not married to his own wife, whom he ac- 
cused of being no better than she should be, and called 
her many bad names besides, which he should be ashamed 
to mention to his Honour." 

Colonel. " Well, my good fellow, have you any proof 
that you are legally married ?" 

Soldier. " Faith, your Honour, I have the best proof 
in the world." Here he took off" his hat, or rather cap, 
and exhibited a cut skull, saying, " Does your Honour 
think I 'd be after taking that same abuse from any bodv 
but a wife ?" 



MEMOIRS OF JOHN SHIPP, 93 

Colonel. "Indeed, I should imagine not; but have 
you no marriage-certificate ?" 

Soldier. " None, your Honour, except the one on my 
head. Don't your Honour think I am married ?" 

Colonel. '* I never saw more positive proof of any 
fact in my life ; and, if the man dares again to say that 
you are not, I will punish him." . 

" Thank your Honour," said Paddy, and off he marched, 
perfectly satisfied, leaving the Colonel and his friends to 
laugh heartily at the irrefragable proof that had been sub- 
mitted to them of the fact of the poor fellow's being 
legally noosed. 

On another occasion, I happened to be in the adjutant's 
office, when a sergeant entered, for the purpose of report- 
ing another man of stripes, for speaking disrepectfully of 
himself, and reducing his wife's character in the barracks, 
by "calling her bad names." 

" What names did he call her ?" said the adjutant. 

" Faith, your Honour, I would not make such a big 
baist of myself before any gentleman as to repate them ; 
but the worst name he called her was that she was a 
drunken blackguard, and never sober besides. JNoWj 
your Honour, my wife never gets so right down drunk 
but she can always stand upright without tumbling ; and 
when she does take a drop of the cratur, she never says 
a word to nobody, but lies quiet in her bed till she gets 
sober again." 

" Well, well, sergeant," replied the adjutant, " if youi" 
wife will be so imprudent as to get drunk in the barracks^ 
she must expect men will make ill-natured remarks upon 
her, and I cannot interfere ; but, if you will manage t© 
keep your wife from drinking, I will punish any man who 
may molest her : as long as she forgets herself, men will 
talk." 

" It 's a hard case, too, your Honour," rejoined the per- 
severing sergeant, " that we cannot take a drop of comfort 
together without the ill-natured remarks of the men about 
her parentage and hedication, and her family abstraction. 
She is of as good a family as any in the town of Mayhoe. 
Sure, her father, who was a trumpeter, made a great big 
noise during the Irish rebellion ; and she had three owr 



94 MEMOIRS OF JOHN SHIP!, 

brothers by the same mother, but not the same father, 
that were drummers in the same regiment with their father. 
Indeed, she is from a genteel family, your Honour, and 
cannot put up with the language of those foul-mouthed 
savages in the barracks." 

Much more would he have said ; but, finding the adju- 
tant inflexible, he went off, muttering to himself, and by 
no means pleased with the reception he had met with. 

Some years ago, at the station of Meerutt, in the East 
Indies, as I was passing the barracks of the 53d Regi- 
ment, late one evening, I heard a man and his rib at high 
words. 

" By the powers, Judy, if you don't be after holding 
your tongue, but I '11 stop your gab, so I will." 

" You, you spalpeen ! Arrah ! do you thin't to frighten 
me, who have been campaigning it these forty years, and 
travelled through all the countries in Europe, besides 
Spain and France? Fait, you may as well attempt to 
frighten a milestone as me ; therefore none of your blar- 
ney : sure, it would have been better for me to have been 
bhnd the first day I saw you. Och ! Judy has made a 
pretty bargain for herself : after all her service, to have 
such a husband!" 

"Faith, honey, I wish the first time I saw your ugly 
mug I had been hanged ; it would have been much more 
genteel than to be humbugged by a famale woman ; and, 
only I don't like to strike one of the softer six, bad luck 
to me if I wouldn't bate you as black as indigo : there- 
fore, will you be after going for the hquor ?" 

" The divel a toe, Paddy — the divel a toe, my dear 
honey ; don't think to come the old soldier OpSr me : one 
who has roughed it winter and summer, day and night, 
hail and snow, thunder and lightning, fire and water, 
smoke and dust ; it won't fit, Paddy." 

" Fait, Judy, you have seen a little service, joy ; and 
it 's a great shame you haven't got a mighty big piwsion 
for your loyalty to your country, — for gin-drinking, rum- 
tippling, whiskey-stealing, husband-scoldmg, dead-rob- 
bing." 

" By the powers, you villain, if you dare be after saying 
I rob the dead,-— I, Judy O'Gum, all the way from Do- 



MEMOIRS OF JOHN SHIPP. 95 

noughmore, and who have followed the soldiers from my 
very cradle, — I will bate your head as flat as your sense, 
Och I you tafe, do you mane to cast a slur upon me, who 
have gone through the toils of a hundred campaigns?" 

"Fait, you followed the soldiers, — becase why, Judy ? 
Sure, honey, 1 know all about you : dogs and girls always 
follow the soldiers." 

" Say that agani, and I '11 split your ugly mug with this 
stick." 

" Put a finger on me, Judy, and by my conscience, but 
1 '11 give you what you never had before in your life, — 9, 
great big bating." 

" Och, then, Pat, here goes if I die." 

Upon this, she rushed at him with the fury of a tigress ; 
and poor Pat had enough to do to parry and guard, to 
keep off her well- aimed blows. At last she tumbled, 
exhausted by her own efforts, when Pat triumphantly ex- 
claimed, "" By St. Patrick ! there lavs three yards of bad 
stuff." 

'' It 's a lie, Pat, it 's a lie ; the divel a bit of better stuff 
in the whole regiment. Fait, Pat, I am not done yet ; 
only let me get up, and I '11 show you that I am blood to 
the back-bone :" but Pat, convinced that his last impu- 
tation against his rib was false, kept her down, her hands 
and feet going at the rate of double-quick, accompanied 
by a volley of epithets not exactly adapted for ears polite. 

Thus went on the scufHe, till I thought a timely inter- 
ference might prevent worse consequences ; but scarcely 
had I told the man to desist, than the woman turned her 
abuse upon me, called me everything but a gentleman, 
and asked what business was it to me, if a man chose to 
bate his wife ? '•'' Oh," said I, " certainly not ; it is no 
affair of mine ; therefore don't let me interfere in your 
domestic avocations ;" and off I marched, reflecting on 
the delectable pleasures of matrimony. 

Having merged into the merry mood, I cannot close 
this chapter without making some mention of an officer 
who served at Bhurtpore, and who, by his uniform good- 
hunrouf and love of fun, contributed greatly to keep up 
our spirits. The officer to whom I allude, was Captain 
Nelley, commanding the breaching-battery,— a mosj: 



96 MEMOIRS OF JOHN SHI PP. 

brave, active, and zealous soldier, and dearly beloved by 
the men, for his condescending and jocular manners. He 
would join in any piece of fun to keep us alive ; was 
always particularly anxious to detect the Irish soldiers in 
the perpetration of bulls ; and would pervert whatever 
was said by Sergeant Gaffen, and others from the Emerald 
Isle, to his own meaning. Being in the constant habit of 
joking with and quizzing the men, it was not to be won- 
dered at that many tricks were played him in return. 
These he would take with the most perfect good-humour. 
When the captain was seated on the ground at his dinner, 
>^ome mischievous wag would, on a sudden, call out, '"'• A 
gun on our left." On this the captain would instantly 
spring up to reconnoitre, and, on his return, he would 
find some part of his dinner purloined, or his grog drunk. 
When it was cold weather, the captain always wore a 
Welsh wig. On these occasions, when he was fast 
asleep, we would stick a crooked pin in the wig, attached 
to a cord some ten yards long, and then sing out, " A 
gun." This would always rouse him from his slumbers; 
and, the moment he moved, the wig, of course, suddenly 
disappeared. On these occasions he would affect to be 
quite outrageous, would stamp and storm, and call us all 
the thieves he could think of. After a time, the wig 
would be returned, by putting a stone in it, and then 
throwing it close to him, singing out, " Shot." At these 
jokes the gallant captain would laugh heartily, generally 
concluding with, " Ay, ay ; never mind, my boys ; I 'U 
pay you off for this." In short, he was as prime an old 
boy as ever graced a battery. 



^ 



71-EMdIRS OF JOHN SHIPP. ''-97 



CHAPTER VIIL 

Having abundance of spare time while preparationg 
were making for a second attack on the fort, Lord Lake 
determined to disturb Hoolkah in his hidmg-place ; for 
which purpose a party of infantry was despatched with 
about four six-pounders. We soon came within sight of 
him, sheltered a good deal from his view by high trees and 
Jungle. The fort, observmg our manoeuvres, commenced 
a heavy cannonade. Hoolkah, alarmed, got on the move., 
and made towards Futtypo or Seccrah,oneofhisoid haunts. 
Once from under the walls of the fort, our cavalry soon 
put his troops to flight ; immense numbers were killed^ 
and elephants, horses, camels, spears, matchlocks, colours, 
&c. were brought into camp. Hoolkah's best elephant 
was that day taken, and some little treasure was found on 
camels. Notwithstanding this routing, however, they took 
up their old ground, and we returned to camp, with some 
few men killed and \vounded. The skirmish, instead of 
decreasing their impudence, seemed only to increase it ; 
for they were day and night hovering round our piquets, 
the object of which was to take our attention from their 
main body, who had been despatched to intercept a small, 
detachment that was on the way to join us, from Muttra. 
Our spies soon brought intelligence of this, and, in little 
more than ten minutes after, three regiments of dragoons 
were on the move to rescue them, and arrived just in time 
to save our stores and the hves of the little party. Hoolkah 
commanded in person on this occasion, and it was reported 
that he was killed, though this proved afterward to be 
false. A reward was offered for his head, and a great 
number were tendered, but none belonged to one-eyed 
Hoolkah. It is true, heads were produced without an eye, 
but the phiz of that notorious Pin was too well known ta 
Chiggram (our best spy), to admit of our being imposed on« 

My wounds at this time were nearly well, and, having 
been unsuccessful in the first Forlorn Hope which I had 

Vol. I.—O 



2B MEMOIRS OF JOHN SHIPF. 

led, I volunteered to lead the second. One night, previous; 
to the time appointed for the second attack, I sauntered to' 
a retired spot, far from the observation of my comrades, 
to muse over the prospect then immediately before me, and 
to ask His aid who alone has the power to protect us« 
Scarcely had I entered a wood about one hundred yards 
from the trenches, when my attention was arrested by a 
soldier on his knees, fervently supplicating the aid of 
Almighty God in the coming storm. The moment he 
heard my footstep, he suddenly arose, and, seeming ashamed 
of the way in which he was engaged, he said, *■' Who's 
that ?" I answered, '' Sergeant Shipp ; who are you ?" 
He replied, "• Private Murphy."— '•' Murphy !" I repeated ; 
" is it possible that such a blasphemer as you, who, day 
after day, and hour after hour, boast your own infamy in a 
wanton disbeHef and contempt of every quality that can 
constitute the man and the Christian, and who, no later 
than yesternight, solemnly protested before your comrades, 
that you firmly believed there was no place of punishment 
save a man's own conscience, and that hell was merely a 
name to frighten and intimidate schoolboys — can it be 
possible," continued f, '•'that you have at this late hour 
retired to this lonely place, and are found in the act of 
prayer ?"— ■" Shipp," he replied, in a softer tone, and in 
nearly the following words :— '' Whatever a man may 
boast or say in his deluded and more irrational moments, 
there is a period when all those blasphemous expressions 
rush across the human mind, and the recollection of having 
uttered them leaves an inconceivable pressure on the 
humbled heart ; but I pray you, do not expose me to my 
Qomrades, or I shall become their jeer and ridicule. I 
beg this as a favour." — " What!" said I, " more afrai'd of 
the derision of men, than the wrath of an offended God ?" 
— " No, no," replied he ; '' but you know how religious 
soldiers are held in derision by some of our comrades." 
— " Well," I said, '• I shall keep your secret, and you may 
confidently trust me on this subject; I will promise you 
most solemnly that I will never join in the laugh against 
you, and, if you have not finished, I shall be gratified ir| 
joining you in prayer, as I have rebuked you for your 
profligacy." He affectionately seized my hand, and pulle«1 
me towards the earth. * * # . * 



MEMOIRS OP JOHN SHIP?. 99 

On the following day this poor fellow was summoned 
to his last account ; and who knows but this single act of 
faith and devotion might have saved his immortal soul ? 

Two o'clock in the afternoon of January 20th, 1805, 
was arranged for the second storming of Bhurtpore. To 
prevent any obstruction by the trench, which was supposed 
to be at this part deep and wide, a bridge of bamboos was 
made, that would admit of three file abfeast. This bridge 
could be thrown a considerable distance by a hundred 
men, and was supported by ghee dubbahs (skins), in which 
the natives keep oil and butter for exportation, which, 
when dried, are light, and will bear a considerable weight 
before you can sink them. Elephants and camels were 
also laden with tents, and hackeries (or carts drawn by 
bullocks) with bales of cotton, all to fill up' the ditch, to 
enable us to cross to the breach. 

I once more took my station with my twelve volunteers, 
supported by my two companies as before. A shell from* 
one of the howitzers was a signal to move. On this 
signal being given, the shell, bursting in the muzzle of the 
gun or mortar, killed two of our grenadiers : a sad be- 
ginning. The bridge followed the Forlorn Hope, carried 
on men's shoulders, and must have appeared some ex- 
traordinary monster to those who were not acquainted 
with its intended use. We moved on, and before I got 
half way down to the fort, six of my men were killed or 
wounded. The enemy, no doubt encouraged by our late 
defeat, had redoubled their fire, both in guns and men ; 
and on the right side of the breach they had thrown out 
an under-work, which was filled with matchlock-men, and 
in which they had several guns. My men kept falhng off 
one by one ; and when I arrived at the edge of the ditch, 
which appeared wide and deep, and was assisting the men 
with the bridge, I received a matchlock ball, which entered 
over the right eye, and passed out over the left. This 
tumbled me, my forehead literally hanging over my nose, 
and the wound bleeding profusely. 1 was at this time 
close to our gallant Captain Lindsay, who, at the same 
moment, received a ginjall ball* in the right knee, which 

* This is a long matchlock, which moves on a pivot, and carries about 
a two-poaad balL 



100 MEMOIES OF JOIO SillPr. 

shattered the bone to pieces. I recovered a little from the 
stun of my vvomid, when the first thing that met my eye 
(for I could only see with one)_ was the bamboo bridge 
quietly gliding down the stream, being some yards too 
short. Nothing but killed and wounded could be seen^ 
and there was not the most distant chance of getting in. 
To have attempted crossing the ditch would have been an 
act of madness. In descending we must have plunged 
over our heads in water, and they had two small guns 
bearing on the spot. At last a retreat was ordered. 
Previous to this, our poor fellows stood hke sheep to be 
shot at, without the remotest hope of success. The 
camels and elephants, alarmed by the tremendous firing 
and shouting, could not be induced to approach the fort, 
many of them throwing their loads and running back to 
camp, and wild into the woods. Seven hundred men were 
killed and wounded on this occasion. Our brave Captain 
Lindsay's w^ound was so bad that his leg was amputated in 
the battery. My wound was a dangerous one, having 
touched the bone. 1 was immediately sent home to camp, 
where I lay completely blind for several days. Thisj 
added to our disastrous defeat, threw me into a fever, and 
nearly cost me my life; but, with the aid of a kind Provi- 
dence, and the advantage of a strong and unimpaired con- 
stitution, I soon recovered. 

Our engineer now gave up this side of the fort as per- 
fectly hopeless, and we went to the eastward, breaching 
a prominent bastion ; but the whole fort was so construc- 
ted that one part protected the others, and therefore, 
wherever we breached we were sure of a destructive 
cross-fire. From our melancholy failures, our poor 
fellows became disheartened ; scarcely a man had escaped 
without being wounded, and the sad recollection of their 
poor comrades that were left behind in a mutilated statej 
was the constant toj)ic of conversation. Our mortifica- 
tion was greatly increased by seeing our men's clothing 
paraded on the ramparts, and worn by the miscreants in 
the fort. However, we still lived in the fond hope thai 
our next effort would prove more successful. 

I could again go abroad, although my wound was by 
5^0 means healed. It was now truly distressing to enter 



MEMOIES OF JOHN SHIPP. lOl 

our men's tents, where, but a short month before, the 
merry joke went round, and mirth and hilarity prevailed. 
Nought but gloomy faces, and even them but few, were 
to be seen : some lost brothers ; others, dear comrades ; 
Captain Lindsay had lost his leg ; Lieutenant Creswell 
had been cut to pieces ; and every other officer was 
wounded. Our loss in killed and wounded in the two 
assaults, in our two companies alone, was nearly the one 
half of the total number. 

After the storm, our breaching-guns were again sent to 
the park to be re-bushed. This was a seasonable pause 
to enable us to recruit our shattered frames and spirits ; 
but it also gave the enemy an opportunity of repairing and 
reinforcing every point of attack. 

On the 18th of February things began to wear a more 
enlivening appearance. The breached bastion seemed to 
bow its haughty head to our roaring guns, and the 20th 
was talked of as the day for storming it. Our last disas- 
trous repulse was scarcely eradicated from our minds * 
the massacre ©four brave comrades was still alive in our 
memories ; but the fond iiope of retaliation (I do not mean 
in cutting up a poor defenceless creature, not a single 
instance of which can, in the long course of our wars, be 
brought against the Company's army) spirited us up, and 
we looked forward to the time when we might drag the 
garments of our murdered comrades from the backs of the 
vaunting foe. They were now daily and hourly exhibiting to 
our view the number of muskets they had taken ; our am- 
munition which had fallen into their hands was now turned 
against ourselves ; as also our cannon-shot, which they 
had picked out of the two old breaches. We again pos- 
sessed our wonted spirits and cheerfulness, and made 
preparation to retrieve the British character. The patient 
conduct and intrepid gallantry of our officers and soldiers 
when in the hour of their utmost distress, from repeated 
defeats, did not pass unnoticed by the enemy ; and it is 
not improbable that the resolution and heroism then dis- 
played by the troops were the means of facilitating that 
long friendship which afterward subsisted between the 
liajah of Bhurtpore and the Company. 

The day appointed, 20th of Februarys arrived, and was 
9* 



102 3IEM0IES*0B JOHN SHIPP. 

'isherediti with a new and unexpected scene. About four 
hundred men from the fort, emboldened, no doubt, by our 
tardiness, and the repeated defeats which our troops expe- 
rienced, rushed out upon us just as we were relieving 
trenches, and actually reached and had possession of our 
batteries and trenches before we could return. Every 
one of these men were in a state of intoxication, and 
fought desperately ; but we soon drove them from the 
batteries ; then, turning our guns against them, dreadful 
was the carnage. The fort fired indiscriminately at the 
whole party'. These fellows were, no doubt, a set of vaga-- 
bonds they wished to get rid of, and, if this was the case, 
their wish was fully realized, for a very few returned to 
tell the tale. This was the kind of retaliation we sighed 
for ; but we lost a considerable number of men, killed 
and wounded, in this affray ; but these they had not the 
barbarous gratification of cutting up. Their wounded 
men left within our reach were sent to the Native hos- 
pitals, and every comfort administered to them. They 
were in the same wards with our wounded men, where 
fi'iendship presided instead of murder. Had the war been 
between Native and Native, the cruelties would have been 
equal on both sides. 

When this strange rencounter had subsided, the storm- 
ing-party was ordered for twelve o'clock. Reader, 
imagine my disappointment when my doctor most posi- 
tively forbade my being employed on this occasion, as my 
wound in the forehead was still in such a state that, should 
I get heated or catch cold, he feared an inflammation of the 
brain would take place, I could have thrown what few 
brains I had in his face, but I was obliged to obey. The 
"Forlorn Hope was led by Lieutenant Templer, of the 
76th Regiment, as brave a little fellow as ever wore a red 
coat, ! looked on at a short distance from the scene of 
action, and a desperate hard struggle jt was. No sooner 
did our brave boys gain the top of the breach, than the 
well-directed fire from the fort swept them off. Footing 
Ihey had none : they literally hung on the bosom of the 
bastion. A third retreat was the result ; leaving behind 
them upwards of five hundred dead and wounded : indeed, 
they might all be said to be dead, for death was inevitable 



MEMOIRS OF JOHN SHIPP. lOS 

The enemy again manned the breach in swarms, shouting 
victory I It would have been better for me iiad I been 
there, for I am sure I fought and struggled as hard as any 
one engaged. I cannot describe my feeliiigs and those of 
the other spectators of this dreadiul scene : but what can 
eight or ten men abreast do against a legion, posted aloft, 
and protected by walls, bastions, &:c., and where every 
possible engine is in requisition for their destruction ? 
Thus exposed, there was never any real chance of success. 
The whole circumference of the bastion, if lined with men. 
wouJd not have contained m.ore than fifteen or twenty men 
abreast ; and the whole means of the fort were levelled 
on this small space, to their certain defeat and destruction. 
All that was in the power of mortal man to do was done, 
but all our efforts were in vain. 

The Etorming-party was again ordered for the follow- 
ing day. I suffered an excruciating heaciach, but said 
nothing of the badness of my wound, which at that time 
bore a most frightful appearance, resolved to die rather than 
give up my past honour. J assured my doctors that I was 
well, and felt quite adequate to take my station, and en- 
treated that they would not stand between me and glory. 
At last they consented, and 1 made the most of the short 
period between that and Ihe stornj, in supplicating the 
divine protection, and in penning a letter to my only rela- 
tion, on account of arranging my little affairs. I had miade 
up my mind that I could not, in all human probability. 
escape a third time ; but He alone who created life can 
destroy it. In the evening 1 leit my tent, to seek in soli- 
tude that consolation for my troubled bosom which the 
drunken and tumultuous riot of a cairp could but ill afford. 
The captain of our company, under whose care I had 
beer brought up, was one of the best and most pious of 
mei.. In gratitude I mention the name of Captain Efiing- 
ham Lindsay, now colonel on the half-pay of the 22d 
Regiment of Foot. To this beloved individual I am in- 
debted for having implanted in my bosom, in early youth, 
those rehgious principles and tiselings by which I have 
ever since endeavoured to direct my conduct, and from 
which, in the hour of affliction and of peril, I have ever 
derived inexpressible comfort. It was with the view of 



,104 MEMOIRS OP JOHN SHIPi*. 

gaining consolation and support from private meditation 
and prayer, that i now retired from the riotous company 
of my companions in arms,— the evening previous to my 
leading, for the third time, the Forlorn Hope at Bhurtpore. 
, Scarcely had I gone beyond the discordant sound of revel- 
ry, and begun to muse upon the subjects that were ever 
uppermost in my mind, viz. the possibility of my ever 
returning to my native village, or ever seeing my poor 
father, when an object presented itself to my sight that for 
a moment startled, and, 1 must confess, a little alarmed 
me. The moon was just peeping from behind the high 
towers of the fort, and shedding her bright rays through 
the tree near which I stood, when, by her light, I per- 
ceived that the object which arrested my attention was a 
European soldier prostrated on the ground^ — as I sup- 
posed, dead. I approached him, but could not hear him 
breathe. I laid my hand on his cheek : it was cold and 
chilly ; which confirmed me in my first opinion, that he 
was dead. At last I ventured to grasp his icy hand, which 
roused him, and he rose up and said, — ^'^ Why did you 
disturb me? I have had a sweet sleep.'* Then, looking 
at, and suddenly recognising me, he said, — '' Is that you, 
Shipp ?" I replied, — "Yes; what brought you to this 
dreary spot?" He rephed, — ""The same, in all proba- 
bility, that guided you here." — "• What," said I, "do you 
suppose that to be?" He replied, — ''To reflect on the 
scene before us for to-morrow. Yes, sergeant," he con- 
tinued, " I have this night stoleniike a thief from the riot- 
ous parties I have too long joined, to spend an hour or 
two alone ; and, if I must confess it, in prayer. Having 
offered up my prayers, I felt my poor heart reheved of a 
burden I cannot describe, and thus I fell asleep, and am 
now glad to meet a friend in this lonely spot." W^e then, 
together, made the earth our communion-table, and offer- 
ed up our poor but fervent devotions to the throne of 
mercy. It was the will of the Almighty to call my com- 
panion in prayer the next day from the world, and to spare 
me, but with a wound in the head, to show my depend- 
ence upon his mercy. 

Two o'clock in the afternoon of the next day was or-- 
dered for the assault. I forgot my aches and wounds, and 



MEMOIRS OF JOHN SHIPP. 105 

was at my old post. Lieutenant Templar, of his Majes- 
ty's 76th Regiment (he was but a little man, but he pos- 
sessed the heart of a Hon), accompanied me on this occa- 
sion, with a sniall Union Jack, to plant on the enemy's 
bastion. He gave me his hand, and, smilingly, said,— • 
" Shipp, I am come to rob you of part of your glory ; you 
are a regular monopohst of that commodity." He con» 
tinned, " 1 w ill place Old England's banner on their 
haughty bastion, or die in the attempt !'' He fell a vic- 
tim to his zeal, having first planted his colour on the bas=- 
tion. 

On the way down from the camp, we met his Excel- 
lency the Commander-in-Chief and suite. His Lordship 
addressed me and my Forlorn Hope : *^' Sergeant, it is 
with sincere regret 1 again see you wounded, and again 
at the head of your little band of heroes. I will not check 
your praiseworthy spirit ; go into glory, my lads, and 
heaven prosper your zeal, and crown you with triumph 1" 
His lordship addres&ed every corps that passed him ;^but 
when the remnant of the two companies of the 22d Regi- 
ment marched by, he was seen to turn frorr them, and the 
tear fell down his cheek ; but, fearful it might be observed.^ 
he took off his hat and cheered them. This was not the 
tear of Judas, for his lordship often shed tears of sorrow 
for our great loss at this place. He was a true soldier's 
friend, and valued their lives as much as he did his own. 

The storming-party marched out in the usual steady 
order ; yet, from our recent calamitous defeats, there was 
not that spirit among the men which I had witnessed on 
former occasions. We had already experienced three 
disastrous repulses from this fort, and there now seemed 
a cloud on every brow, which proceeded, I have no hesi- 
tation in asserting, from a well grounded apprehension that 
this, our fourth assault, would be concluded by another re- 
treat. If any sight could be exhibited to the human eye that 
was calculated to work upon the feelings of men already 
disappointed and dispirited, it was the scene that was ex- 
posed to our view on approaching to this breach ; for there 
lay our poor comrades who had fallen in previous at* 
tempts, many of them in a state of nudity ; some without 
arms or legs j and others whose bodies exhibited the most 



106 MEMOIRS or JOHN siiirr. 

barbarous cruelties, for they were literally cut to pieces. 
The sight was truly awful and appalling, and the eye of 
pity closed instinctively on such a spectacle of wo. Those 
who attempted to extend the hand of relief were added to 
the number of the dain, as the spot was much exposed to 
a cross-fire from the lort. Could any sight be more dis- 
tressing for affectionate comrades to look on ? 1 say 
affectionate, for, among men living toj^ether in one bar- 
rack, and, perhaps, under one tent, in lamiliar intercourse, 
there must be a greater regard for each other than is found 
to subsist among those who meet casually, once a day or 
once a week. In a soldier's barrack the peculiarities, 
good or bad, of every mdividual are known ; added to 
which, arduous services will always link men together in 
the bond of union and affection. Many of these muti- 
lated objects srill breathed, and could be seen to heave 
the agonized bosom ; sf )me raised their heads clotted with 
blood; others their leg& and arms ; and, in this manner j 
either made signs to us, or faintly cried for help and pity. 
It v/as a sight to turn nature's current, and to melt a heart 
of stone. Such was its effect upon our hues, that, after 
a short conflict of the softer feelings, the eye of every man 
flashed the vivid spark of vengeance against the cruel 
race who had committed such wanton barbarities ; and, 
if mortal eifbit could have surmounted the obstacles in 
our path, those who witnessed the horrid scene I have 
just described must infallibly have succeeded. But the 
effort was beyond mortal power. Braver hearts or more 
loyal, never left the Ssle of Albion, than those who fell 
like withered leaves, and found a soldier's grave at Bhurt- 
pore. 

Our ascent was found, for the fourth time, to be quite 
impossible : every man who showed himself was sure of 
death. The soldiers in the fort were in chain armour. 
I speak this from positive conviction, for 1 myself fired at 
one man three times in the bastion, who was not six yards 
from m©, and be did not even bob his head. We were 
told afterward, that every man defending the breach was 
in full armour, which was a coat, breastplate, shoulder- 
plates, and armlets, with a helmet and chain face-guard ; 
so that our shots could avail but little. I had not been 



MEMOIRS OF JOHN SHIPP. 107 

on the breach more than five minutes, when I was struck 
with a large shot on my back, thrown down from the top 
of the bastion, which made me lose my footing, and I was 
rolUng down sideways, when I was brought up by a bay- 
onet of one of our grenadiers passing through the shoe, 
into the fleshy part of the foot, and under the great toe. 
My fall carried everything down that was under ihe. The 
man who assisted me m getting up, was at that moment 
shot dead : his name was Courtenay, of the 22d Light 
Company, I regained my place tune enough to see poor 
Lieutenant Templer who had planted the colour on the 
top, cut to pieces, by one of the enemy rushing out, and 
cutting him almost in two, as he lay flat upon his face on 
the top of the breach. The man was immediately shot 
dead, and trotted to the bottom of the ditch. I had not 
been in my new place long, when a stink-pot, or other 
earthen pot, containing combustible matter, fell on my 
pouch, in which were about fifty rouFids of ball cartridges., 
The wliole exploded : my pouch I never saw more, and 
I was precipitated from the top to the bottom of the bas- 
tion. How 1 got there in safety, 1 know not ; but when 
i came to myself, I found I was lying under the breach, 
with my legs in the water. I was much hurt from the 
fall, my face was severely scorched, my clothes much 
burnt, and all the hair on the back of my head burnt off. 
I for a time could not tell where i was. 1 crawled to the 
opposite side of the bank, and seated myself by a soldier 
of the same company, who did not know me. I sat here, 
quite unable to move, for some little time, till a cannon- 
ball struck in the ditch, which knocked the mud all over 
me. This added greatly to the elegance of my appear 
ance ; and in this state I contrived, somehow or other, to 
crawl out of the ditch. At this moment the retreat was; 
sounded, after every mortal effort had been made in vain. 
The case was now deemed completely hopeless, and we 
were obliged to give up the contest, iiaving lost, in killed 
nnd wounded, upwards of three thousand men (braver, or 
more zealous, never lived) against this fort. Of the 
twelve gallant fellows who composed the third forlorn 
hope led by me, not one returned to reap the proffered re- 
ward of the Commander-in-Chief. Add to this, the loss 



108 MEMOIRS OP JOHN SIIIPP. 

oi one of the best officers in our army, Captain Menzies, 
of the 22d Grenadier Company, A.id-de-Camp to Lord 
Lake. He fell endeavouring to rally some Native troops 
4hat were exposed to a galling fire, and began to give 
way. In this heroic attempt he lost his life, regretted by 
the whole army. Of our two companies, scarce a soul 
escaped uninjured. Near the breach, the dead, dying, and 
wounded, would have melted the heart of the most callous 
wretch ; and, had not the httle party who stormed the 
eleven-gun battery proved successful, few, if any^ would 
have escaped the dreadful carnage. You must permit me 
to draw the gloomy shroud of mourning over this scene of 
misery and terror. The sad details of this siege have 
years ago been before the public ; and here my personal 
services at Bhurtpore ended, leaving impressions, both on 
m'md and body, that can never be obliterated. 

In the course of the siege, frequent overtures were made 
fjpm the fort, but of what nature 1 do not pretend to know 
They were at last, however, obliged to come to our terms, 
which compelled them to pay all the expenses of the siege, 
&/C., after which we raised the siege, and returned t® 
camp. The loss of the enemy must have been immense ; 
report said, five thousand men, women, and children ; 
and, from the immense concourse of inhabitants in the 
town, with their families, that number does not appear to be 
at all improbable. Certain it is, that they must have been 
as heartily tired of it as we were. 

Our sad failures, on the occasion of this memorable 
siege, may unquestionably, in my opinion, fairly be attri- 
buted to our total want of means. What were four 
breaching-guns against such a fort as that of Bhurtpore ? 
Forty would not have been too many: as a proof of 
which, if we contrast the means of attack at our disposal, 
with those possessed by Lord Corabermere, in his suc- 
cessful siege of the same fort, it will be found, that the 
number of guns employed on the latter occasion, com- 
pared with the former, was at least ten to one. With the 
original force of Bhurtpore (calculated at not less than a 
hundred thousand men), it was scarcely possible that, with, 
a less number of guns, the place could be taken by assault, 
It should be recollected, also, that, with the means we had. 



MEMOIRS OF JOHN SHIPP. 109 

the ditch which surrounded the fort made it quite inacces- 
sible to us. Sapping and mining, the only way by which 
Bhurtpore could have fallen, was, at the period of the first, 
siege of that place, scarcely known in India ; and shelling 
was then only in its infancy. The former of these methods 
was resorted to by the present Commander-in-Chief, with 
great success ; and the latter, from the improvements 
which, since 1805^ have been made in this destructive 
system of warfare, with at least ten times the vigour and 
effect that it was possible for us to impart to it* 

It will not, I trust, be supposed for a moment, that, in 
making these remarks, it can by possibility be my inten- 
tion to detract, in the slightest degree, from the gallant 
achievements of the army under Lord Combermere, in 
1S17. 

After our last failure, conciliatory orders were published 
to our disheartened troops ; every thing was done to con» 
sole and comfort them ; and with these judicious measures, 
though the men could scarcely bear the stigma of being 
defeated, yet, after a ^ew days' reflection, their features 
began to brighten up, and they began to weigh things in 
a proper light; when an unexpected and untoward event 
happened, that was likely to have been attended with the 
most frightful consequences. The peace having been 
ratilicJ, the garrison had permission to visit our carap. 
Imagine our mortification and surprise, when many of 
them had the presumption to appear, under our very noses^ 
with the coats, sashes, and arms, they had torn from the 
dead bodies of our poor comrades. This news flew 
through the camp in a moment ; the whole army was out ; 
every eye flashed vengeance; but, by the timely interfe- 
rence of the Co!nmander-in-Chief, and the officers ia 
general, the men were calmed, and the mischief stopped. 
In the next general orders my name appeared as Ensign 
in his Majesty's 65th Regiment, with many flattering en- 
comiums by the Commander-in-Chief. From the whole 
of this regiment, during the short time I remained with 
them, I received the most marked attentions ; and when- 
ever I ser?ed with, or met them afterward, I experienced 
from them the most disinteresteii friendship. 

Vol. I.— 10 



110 MEMOIR S or JOHN SHIPP. 

On the day of my appointment, I was metamorphosed 
into a gentleman ; hair cut and curled ; new coat, &c. &c.; 
had an invitation to dine with the Commander-in-Chief; 
hut, of course, kept myself in the back ground. The 
gentleman did not seem to sit easy on me ; for, you must 
know, I was then a blushing modest youth : but tho ex- 
tremely kind inquiries of his lordship, and of his equally 
kind son, if T was there, tended greatly to dissipate my 
shyness. His lordship, on hearing I had arrived, ap- 
proached me with extended hand, and shook mine cor- 
dially, saying, '' I congratulate you as a brave young fellow, 
and I shall not lose sight of your merit." He requested 
i would feit next to him at dinner. I did so ; and, after 
the cloth was removed, he made me fight the Foxlorn 
Hopes over again, at the recital of which his lordship was 
much affected. The next day his lordship again sent for 
me, when he addressed me in these words, — '*■ Shipp, I 
have been thinking a good deal about your case. You, of 
course, have not much money. I know your generous 
Lindsay will do any tiling to serve you, but he must really 
leave a little for me to do. You may therefore draw on 
me, through the field pay-master, for what you want." 
His lordship afterward sent me a tent, two camels, and a 
horse as presents. The rest of my fitting-out, my excel- 
lent friend, Captain Lindsay, generously gave mo. 

Lord Lake was truly my friend, rs he wa=» that of every 
soldier in the army. He was m.nnificent in his charities, 
being ever the first in subscribing large sums to whatever 
cases of distress appeared. I will relate one instance of 
his benevolence and generosity. A very old lieutenant 
could not purchase a company then vacant ; indeed, know- 
ing he could not purchase, he had thought nothing of the 
vacancy. In the evening [ was standing with this officer, 
when the orderly- book, publishing his promotion by pur- 
chase, was put into his hantls. He said, '^ There must be 
some mistake, for he had not a rupee he could call his 
own." At that moment colonel Lake, his lordship's son^ 
came up, and wished him joy of his prom<jtion. The 
other said, " Colonel, there must be some mistake in this ; 
I cannot purchase." Colonel Lake said, " My lather 
knows you cannot, and has therefore lent you the monev.^ 



MEMOIRS or JOHN SHIPP. Ill 

which he never intends to take back." These were the 
sort of acts in which his lordship delighted, and in conse- 
quence he was beloved by his army, and admired by 
the people wherever he came. 

i 1 about three weeks after having been appointed ensign 
in the 65th Regiment, his lordship promoted me to the 
rank of Heutenant in his Majesty's "JSth Regiment, thus 
faithfully keeping his promise of not losing an opportunity 
of serving me. In this regiment I became a great favour- 
ite with my colonel, the honourable William Monson, then 
Brigadier-general of the army. 

One of the articles of treaty was, that Hoolkah should 
be driven from under ihe walls of the Fort of Bimrtpore. 
This had been done ; but he still hovered about camp, 
annoying our foraging-parties and small escorts coming 
into camp with supplies. A few days after having joined 
the 76th Regiment, I was appointed an extra aid -de-camp 
to the Brigadier, to proceed on a foraging-party, consist- 
ing of one regiment of Native cavalry and four six^- 
pounders, with five hundred of irregular or local horse. 
We had not proceeded many miles from camp, when we 
saw Floolkah's troops in immense force, posted on an 
eminence. They showed symptoms of fight. We col- 
lected our elephants, camels, and bullocks, and left them 
in charge of the five hundred irregular horse; then, 
placing two of the six pounders behind the regiment of 
Native cavalry, we moved slowly on till within two or 
three hundred yards of the enemy, when we gave them 
aboj#t twenty rounds of grape, killing great numbers. We 
then charged them, and cut up a great number more. I 
had a narrow escape ; my horse was killed by a spear- 
wound in the chest, which entered his heart, and I fell 
under him. The horseman was aboiK to give me a few 
inches of the same spear, when the honourable Brigadier 
cut him down, and thus I escaped, taking the liberty of 
riding my well-meaning adversary's horse to camp. I was 
a good deal hurt by the fall, but this, with one or two 
men wounded, and some few horses killed, were the only 
casualties of the day. 

Hoolkah, finding that our hands were so unoccupied 
l!hat v/e had iziore leisure than suited tiis purposes, made 



112 MEMOiE* OF JOHN siiirr. 

towards Jeypore. We crossed the river Chumlab, near 
Daulporein pursuit ; but he retired to his old haunts, with 
his colleague Emeerkhan, and we to quarters in Futty- 
poore Seccrah. 

The following year, every thing wearing the paciwc 
garb, and the gallant regiment to which I belonged being 
literally cut to pieces — so much so, that we had scarcely 
a sound man left in the regiment, it was considered to be 
time that the corps had some cessation from war. Twen- 
ty-five years had they been in India, and stood the brunt 
of all Lord Lake's conquests, and those on the coast. 
When 1 was in the regiment (1805), 1 believe there were 
only two men of the original corps, — Lieutenant Mont- 
gomery, and Quarter- Master Hopkins. 1 am sure the 
latter, who is now living in England, will go through my 
campaigns with me with pleasure. The former, from 
the frequent wounds he had received, died a short time 
after the date to which I have referred. Would he had 
lived to have enjoyed the rewards oi his gallantry ! for both 
these soldiers, like myself, were raised from the ranks by 
their merit. It has been my concern to watch that corps 
as if I was still connected with it : whenever 1 get hold 
of an Army List, my first care is for my old respected and 
gallant corps, and it is with regret I see my old and dear 
friends dying off ; but this is incident to man's mortality, 
as well as to warfare. 

The regiment now embarked for Calcutta. I preceded 
them, in charge of invalids. Many of these poor fellows 
were without arms and legs ; and some of them so dread- 
fully cut up, that scarcely a human feature could be 
traced. Many died from their wounds. Mine, by the 
blessing of Divine Providence, continued to do well ; but 
I was visited with tlie most excruciating headaches and 
dizziness from the wound in my head ; and the terrific 
spectacle of the last scene at Bhurtpore so affected my 
mind, that scarcely a night passed in which I did not 
dream of " hair-breadth 'scapes i' th' imminent deadly 
breach," and fancy I was fighting my battles over again. 
My head was so much injured, that the report of a gun 
would startle me dreadfully ; fbut, with an excellent consti- 
tution, care, and avoiding drink, I soon recovered, though 



MEMmRS OF JOHN SHIPf. llS 

die wound across my forehead has considerably impaired 
my sight. Twelve pieces^ or spHnts, came away from the 
upper part of the wound ; and when you put your finger 
upon it, the skull was so thin that you could feel the pulsa- 
tion, like the pendulum of a clock. My wounds are still a 
certain and sure weather-glass. That on my forehead 
will, to this day, swell and expand on any change of the 
weather, or variation in the atmosphere. 



CHAPTER IX. 

You have now, reader, followed me through my mili- 
tary enterprises, up to the time of my being appointed lieu- 
tenant in the 76th Regiment. The time has arrived when 
I have to request that you will beat the silvery wave with 
me ; for I am bound to my native country with my regi- 
ment, after an absence of ten years. On arriving at 
Calcutta, our reception was gratifying in the extreme. 
Every house opened its hospitable doors, and the tables 
groaned under a profusion of good cheer. Every one 
was anxious to hear the tale of war, and wherever I went 
1 was thought ill-natured if 1 refused to repeat storm after 
storm, and all my battles over and over again. But, the 
ship being about to weigh anchor, our stay here was but 
fibort. We embarked at Balloh Ghaut, on board small 
sloops, and in three days reached the vessel, the Lord 
Duncan, Captain Bradford, in safety. We had on board 
a great number of passengers, and about two hundred 
invalids, under the command of Captain Lindsay, of my 
old corps. Two days afterward we bade adieu to the 
Indian shores, leaving many dear and respected friends 
behind us. 

We were at this time at war with France, and the In- 
dian Seas were well watclied by cruisers from off the Isle 
of France. Oar fleet consisted of thirteen Indiamen of 
ihe first-rate, convoyed by the Tremendous, seventj-four, 

10* 



1 14 MEMOIRS OF JOHK SlIIPP. 

and Hindostan, seventy-four. We sailed in- two lines., 
headed by the two seventy- fours. All seemed order and 
discipline, and we thought ourselves ajmatch for any ships 
of France we might have fallen in with. Every thing 
went on smoothly, practising and drilling our guns once 
a week, and keeping a constant look-out for the enemy. 
Off the coast of Madagascar a ship was discovered, early 
in the morning, standing right down upon us. Seeing her 
a single vessel, we conceived her to be one of our cruisers 
from off the Cape of Good Hope ; but, when she was 
within one mile and a half from us, she could not answer 
our signals, and consequently ran towards the land, which 
was to windward of us. The Tremendous being a fast 
aailer, went in chase of her. I'he Frenchman soon found 
that he was mistaken. He, no doubt, at first, took us for 
a French fleet that was then out in these seas, and relied 
upon his fast and superior sailing to enable him to get 
away, should he prove mistaken ; but our Commodore 
overhauled him hand over hand. The Frenchman tacked, 
turned, and twisted, but he found it was of no use. He 
therefore resorted to his natural cunning, shortened sail, 
and at last backed main-topsail, and waited till the 
English vessel came within pistol-shot. The Commodore, 
conceiving that the Frenchman was about to strike, did 
yiot wish to injure her, and therefore would not fire. The 
French captain availed himself of this interval, and gave 
the Tremendous a whole broadside, by which she was so 
disabled as to become an immoveable log on the water. 
The Frenchman up-helm, and off he started. The Com- 
modore, at last, got his ship's broadside to bear, and 
nearly tore her out of the water. However, she was a 
faster sailer than any ship in our fleet, and, finally, made 
her escape, to the mortification of the whole fleet, except 
one Captain Brusee, a French prisoner of war, a pas- 
senger on board our ship, who danced with ineflabie 
delight ; — natural enough ; but not very pleasant to the 
sight of an Englishman. 

The following day we experienced a most violent hur- 
riicane, which lasted for two days without cessation. For- 
tunately, our fleet suffered but little injury, with the excep- 
tion of one vessel, the Lady Castlereagh, which we thought 



MEMOIRS OF JOHN SIIlrT. 1 1 5 

must inevitably have been lost. She was about a quarter 
of a mile from us, and we could at one time see her whole 
keel. There was a general shriek of terror from all on 
board of us, and our captain said that he feared she would 
never right. The next gigantic wave, however, brought 
her up, and she did right, in spite of our predictions, 
but seemed to roll, pitch, and labour dreadfully. Some 
part of her masts were carried away ; but what, I do not 
now recollect. Three of our ships separated from the 
fleet, and we imagined that they had fallen into the hands 
of the French, for we learned, at St. Helena, that they 
had been seen a few days before from that island. The 
name of the French ship which we had fidlen in with, was 
Le Cannonier, a sixty-four, from the Isle of France. We 
understood that she was so badly wounded, that she was 
obliged to put into Simmon's Bay, not aware, at that 
time, that the Cape was again in possession of the Eng- 
lish. She soon found this oi^t, cut and ran, and got 
clear to the Isle of France. Our three strayed ships made 
their appearance at St. Helena the following day, having 
seen the French fleet the night after the affair between the 
Tremendous and Le Cannonier, and, under cover of the 
night, escaped unobserved, or they must have been taken, 
as the French fleet consisted of five sail or more. 

Our reception at St. Helena, by Governor Brooke, was 
truly splendid and hospitable. We remained there, I 
think, eight or ten days, after which we again stood 
towards Old England. Our voyage thither affords me an 
opportunity of introducing what may be not unamusing 
to the reader under the title of, ^ 



SHIP MISERIES AND, TRICKS. 

Tkyiing to save yourself from a fill, discover, after 
every mortal effort, that you have found your way into the 
pigsty, and that such has been the force of the fall, that 
the sailors are obliged to clap a tackle on your leg to get 
you out, for which kind services you have an exceli'jnt 
opportunity of showing your liberality. 



l\Q MEMOIRS OF JOHIX SHfPP. 

Trying to save yourself from falling overboard, seize 
bold of a lady's gown, and carry part of the flimsy robe 
in triumph with you lo the silvery deep ; thus adding to 
your ducking, or bitter cold immersion, the eternal anger 
of the offended fair- 



Endeavouring to save yourself from a fall, when the 
ship is rolling terrifically, find your precious body quietly 
deposited in the orlop deck, a depth of about twenty feet. 

In carrying pea-soup, find yourself floored on your back, 
with the contents of the soup-dish over your face and 
clothes, — but w-ith this consolation, that all is liOt lost, 
having received your mouthful of the boihng decoction. 

When, the ship is pitching, show your skill in sliding 
along the deck, by making a desperate eflfort from the 
quarter-deck to the forecastle :~ brought up by your head 
coming in contact with that of Mungo, the West- India 
€Ook ; who, thinkiijg you one of his countrymen, and up 
to their method of i:'»hting, gives you several butts before 
he discovers his mit .^ake ; teaching you, however, by tliis 
catastrophe that Mungo's head is much harder than 
vour own. 



A dandy, in full fig for dinner, parading his bedizened 
igure on the quarter-deck, and cutting as many capers as 
a cat in a tripe shop, is invited to the forecastle to see a 
strange sail (a hoax), and the distant speck he views with 
his eye-glass. 

Captain. Don't you see her, sir ? Look a little more 
to the starboard -side ; she is very small. 

Dandy. Upon honour, I cannot, for ll:e life of me. 
discover her ; and i flatter myself that my eyes are as 
brilhant as any body's, d — — n me. Strange ! cannot get 
a glimpse of her ! 

Captain. You have not washed your eyes this morning. 
sir ; look, my dear fellow, — yonder she is, quite plaio. ' 

Dandy. Cursedly strange ! cannot see h^r. 

Captain. Luff, boy. 

Boy. Ay, ay, sir. 



^MEMOIRS OF JOHN SHIPP. 1 1 7 

He luffs the vessel up, when she ships a tremendous 
sea, which drenches the poor dandy from head to foot, and 
his sneezing prevents, for a time, h'f indignation against 
the cold blue waters. At last, he gains breath enough 
to exclaim, — '* This is what I call a confounded bore, 
d— — d"bore, 'pon honour." For which he has the satis- 
faction of being laughed at by the passengers, and grinned 
at by the tars. 



Giving a dandy a tarry rope to pull by, by which he has 
the delectable pleasure of walking off with a good half- 
pound of tar, which takes him the rest of the passage to 
get off. 



Soaping the cuddy-ladder about halfway up, by which 
some annoying puppy has an opportunity of showing his 
skill in gymnastics, at the expense of his back and sides. 

Going to roost a little muzzy, wake in the night with 
the cramp, and find that you can only lie and roar, not 
being able to move hand or foot, on account of some kind 
friend's having lashed you in your hammock, to prevent 
your falling out. 

Taking the head of the table as the least crowded 
place, by a sudden roll of the vessel find the whole of the 
dinner lodged in your lap, with dishes, plates, knives, forks, 
and glass, and the rear-guard brought up by a score of fat 
passengers, who are all driven towards the scene of dis- 
tress. When the ship rolls on the contrary side, you have 
the pleasure of being uppermost in your turn, and riding 
some of them back again, disencumbering your clothing 
and person of your hot and greasy cargo, to the great ad- 
vantage of those then beneath you. 

Finding, from the stupidity of the servant, who has for- 
gotten to lash your chair, that the first roll of the ship 
gives you an opportunity of cutting a somerset backwards. 
Endeavouring to save yourself, unfortunately seize the sea- 
pie, and get the contents in your palpitating bosom. 



In the act of drinking a glass of port wine, the ship 
gives a terrific roll, by which the lady on your left gets ih^ 



iI8 MEMOIKS OF ^OIIN siiipr. 

contents of your glass over her new silk dress, newly puf' 
chased of Mrs. Perceval, Regent Street. After this acci- 
dent, the lady, whom you are obliged to sit next during 
the whole voyage, makes the long passage to the East 
(soaie six months) particularly agreeable. 

Walking with a lady on the quarter-deck when the ship 
is rolling, in endeavouring to save yourself, pull the lady 
over you. This untoward circumstance draws from you 
the most earnest apologies, which only increase the viru- 
lence of the fair spinster, and you are obliged to pocket 
the charming epithets, " Stupid fellow," "■ Awkward 
creature ;" and part to speak no more. 



Sporting your figure on the poop of an Indiaman, find 
your new BicknelPs hat riding on the blue waters. Having 
no other, obliged to purchase a greasy cap from one of 
the sailors, from which metamorphosis you are dubbed 
the " pirate." 



Being rather scanty of clean linen, resolve to have a 
general wash, for which purpose you tow over the m-jor 
part of your Uttle kit, when, from t{ie injudicious manner 
in which you have tied the knot, you have the mortifica- 
tion of seeing the whole riding on the hoary billows— one 
satisfaction only remaining to you, that you know where 
they are. 



In stormy weather, after having puffed and blowed the 
galley-fire for above an hour, and at length succeeded in 
getting your pot of coffee boiled, proceed, with great 
caution, to convey it to the table ; but, from a sudden 
heave of the vessel, the very first step you take your now 
boihng cofilae (to which, after all your trouble, you have 
an undoubted ri^ht) finds its way into your loving arms, 
rather more to the prejudice of your outward, than to the 
satisfaction, as you had intended, of your inward man. 

Going up the rigging to look out for land, find yourself 
tied hands and feet by the sailors, and kept there till your 
liberality in grog is duly and in form exhibited by an order 
on the steward for a gallon. 



MEMOIKS OF JOHN SHiPP. 119 

Sleeping on your watch, find yourself suddenly called 
tip to perform some part of your duty ; when, lo ! some 
wags have lied you hands and legs to a gun. 



Sleeping to leeward late in the morning, find yourself 
swimming, the morning watcli having commenced washing 
decks. Symptoms of anger would only increase the 
laugh at your expense. 



In the ship in which I sailed to India, a young midship- 
ntan was sleeping on his morning watch, on the leeward 
side. The officer on watch ordered the sailors to bring 
half-a-dozen buckets of water, and at a preconcerted signal 
the poor snoring middy was to get the contents. The 
signal was given, and souse went a couple of buckets ; 
then two more. The offider sung out, *' Tom, you are 
overboard; strike away," The little frightened fellow's 
hands and legs went the same as they would if he had 
been actually swimming, and it was some time before he 
could make up his mind that he was safe on board ; more 
especially when some of them bellowed out, '■^ Throw him 
a rope — throw him a rope." 



Showing your agility in ascending the ship's side, miss 
your footing, by which you have a most favourable oppor- 
tunity of showing your swimming powers also. 



Being anxious to land after a long voyage from India, 
trust your precious body in an open boat. A hurricane 
coming on, your little bnrk is driven out to sea, and you 
are obliged to seek refuaje in an enemy's country. If you 
escape with life, you are fortunate indeed ; but the loss o^f 
your long-collected treasures is inevitable. 



Being obliged to sit next to a gentleman who is an in- 
tolerable taker of snuff, which is continually blowing into 
your eyes. To mend this annoyance, your snuff-ioving 
neighbour gets drunk before the cloth is removed from 
the table, and then becomes so importunate for conversa* 
tion, that he thrusts his snuffy proboscis into your face ; 
or, in bis vehemence, upsets his snuff-box into your lap« 



ISO MEMOIRS OF JOHN SHIPP. 

Quarrelling with the officers of the ship ; in consequence 
of which, wherever you show your nose, you are sure 
of being soused and played all manner of tricks with 
by the crew, to the great amusement of the other pas- 

senders. 



Having refused to get up for the purpose of having the 
steerage washed, find yourself, when in a comfortable 
slumber, cut down by the head ; by which you learn that 
your nob is not quite so hard as the deck, though, per- 
haps, thicker ; and are taught, at the same time, the ne- 
cessity of confornjirsg to the rules of the ship. 



Refusing to bring up your hammock from below, find, 
when you are going to turn in at night, that some scamp 
has emptied the tarhucket into it, by which you have the 
felicity of having your bedding sticking to your back. No 
grumbling permitted. 

Being monstrously beloved by the passengers, from your 
urbanity and complacency of manners, find that, as a 
token of their unalterable affection, they bribe sailors to 
play you all manner oi tricks ; such as tripping you up by 
a rope ; tying your legs when asleep ; dragging you from 
one side of the deck to the other ; sousing you from the 
main-top, whenever you venture in its vicinity ; putting 
grease on your chair, when you are about to seat your- 
self; filling your tea with salt ; your cigar with gunpow- 
der ; your grog with jalap ; your boots with water ; your 
bed with tar ; and five hun^lred other tricks. Therefore, 
as the s >cir'ty of a vessel is necessarily small, make your- 
self agreeable : if not, the above will be your fate. 



Under the raging sun, inhaling from your port-hole the 
little breeze that sometimes condescends to visit you, and 
in those pensive moments committing to paper the oc- 
currences of the voyage, when, all of a sudden, a squall 
comes on, and your effusions, desk and all, find their way 
into the briny deep, and you have the mortification of 
seeing them descending rapidly to Neptune's treasury. 



3IEM0IES OF JOHN SHIPP. 121 

During a storm, find your cot loose, which rolls from 
side to side, to the great terror of all the passengers, and 
to the great risk of your life ; cannot, — dare not, — move ; 
J and, from the noise and bustle on deck, your shrill notes 
of fear pass unheeded, save by the frightened inmates be- 
low, who hug their beds in alarm. Thus you are doomed, 
at the mercy of the billows, to roll from side to side, and 
from head to stern, at the expense of your ribs and head. 

Considering yourself a connoisseur in the manufacture 
of spruce-beer, make twelve dozen, and invite your friends 
on board the ship to pay you a visit, to regale themselves 
on this cooling beverage the following day. In the middle 
of the night, however, find yourself awoke by a file firing 
which alarms the whole ship, and which, on examination, 
you find to proceed from the bursting of your delicious 
spruce, occasioned by the rolling of the vessel, and the 
heat of the lockers in which it had been deposited. 



Being obliged to sit next to a person with whom you 
jiave quarrelled, and are to settle your litlle affair of honour 
on arriving at the first land. 

Dancing down the middle with a fat Sodagah's wife, 
who, for the last twenty years, has been regaling on the 
delic.icics of the East, and whom you are hterally obliged 
fo diGg down the country dance. When poussetting, or 
swinging corners, the raisclsievous helmsman gives the 
ship a luff up, which brings the whole weight of the said 
fat Sodagah's wife upon your liverless side, to the no sraaU 
amusement of the rest of the party, who laugh most 
heartily at the struggling and floundering of yourself and 
fat partner, to restore yourselves to a perpendicular po- 
sition. 



Showing your agility before the assembled passengers, 
by ascending the rjgging, find your way down much 
quicker than you went up, by slipping from the ratlines, 
which have been recently tarred ; by which fall you are 
minus some few inches of skin from your nose, hands, and 
shins, besides spoiling your new suit jof clothes. 

Vol. I.— 11 



122 MEMOIKS OF JOHN SHIPP. 



As one of the pleasures of being a sound sleeper, find, 
when you awake in the morning, that you have been tied 
in your hammock, with your face towards the deck; in 
which state you are obliged to hang suspended till some 
kind friend relieves you. 

Sitting, on a passage from India, next to your tailor or 
shoemaker, to whom you owe a long bill. 

Being out-general'd, so that you are obliged to sit next 
to a right down West-Indian Black, who has but an in- 
tolerable spattering of your mother-tongue, but whom, 
sitting next to you, you are, as a matter of politeness, ob- 
liged to hand to and from table, and occasionally to lead 
down the merry dance ; and who sometimes solicits you 
with such fascinating grins to accompany her in a duetj- 
that you cannot, without offence, refuse. 



Sitting opposite, or next to, a prodigious fat gentleman, 
or dame, who has a wheezing asthma. 



Sitting opposite to a tawny and sun-burnt invalid, who 
is proceeding home with all the diseases incident to the 
climate of India, and who is so quarrelsome and peevish, 
that, in commiseration for his sufferings, you condescend- 
ingly agree with him on every subject, although in direct 
opposition to your own experience and judgment. 

Playing whist with an invalid of this kind, who plays a 
card every half-hour ; and, if you hurry him, is very likely 
to throw the whole pack at your head. 



Making love on the poop early in the morning, and 
planning your schemes how to elude the vigilant eye of a 
parent, find, when your arrangements are finally settled, 
that your whole conversation has been overheard by '' pa'," 
from the mizen-mast, behind which he had stolen unob- 
served. Miss is confined to her cabin, and yoU are obliged 
to sit next to the said pa' for the rest of the voyage. 



MEMOIRS GB JOHN SHIPl'. 123 

Sitting between two foreigners, of whose language you 
do not understand a syllable ; and who, from their violent 
gestures, appear to be laying deep plans for cutting your 
throat. 



CHAPTER X. 

We arrived in England some time in October, 1807. 
We landed at Long Reach, and proceeded to Dartford, in 
Kent, from whence I marched my invalids, or rather had 
them carried, to Chelsea Hospital, — a journey which I 
was three days in accomplishing. On the fourth day I 
reached the place of destination, and having made my 
report to the commandant of Chelsea, I returned to join 
the regiment at Dartford. Here we remained for about a 
week or ten days, receiving the greatest kindness from the 
gentlemen in that town and its vicinity. From thence the 
regiment was ordered to Nottingham, and I obtained leave 
of absence to proceed home. 

My primary object in coming to England, was the hope 
of seeing my father ; and I anxiously availed myself of 
the opportunity which now offered of revisiting my native 
village, full of anticipation of the pleasure with which I 
should relate my adventures to all who had formerly known 
me. The coach which was to convey me to the village 
of my birth, had not proceeded many miles, when a coin- 
cidence happened, which, though " true as holy writ,'* 
might be thought, without this assurance, to bear the 
marlcs of fiction. On the coach, next to me, sat a pilot 
from Aldborough, in Suffolk, who suddenly addressing 
himself to me, said, " I really cannot help thinking, sir, 
from your extraordinary resemblance to a person I once 
knew, that you are his son." The words, "' once knew," 
turned my blood cold, and it was some minutes before I 
could muster courage to ask the name of the person to 
whom he referred. What was my astonishment,^ when he 



^. 



124 MEMOIRS OF JOHN SHIPP. 

at once replied, " Shipp i"— " Is he, then, dead, sir?' 
exclaimed I, convinced now that it was my father of whom 
he spoke. " I regret to say he is," rephed the pilot ; and 
he added, while his lip quivered, and the tear of sympathy 
stood in his eye, — " You are his son John, — I feel sure 
that 1 cannot be mistaken now." At this moment the 
coach stopped to change horses, and I jumped oft'; and^ 
instead of supping with the rest of the passengers, took a 
solitary stroll to hide my grief. I had left India at a great 
sacrifice -to my prospects. There were all mj friends, and 
there lay all my interest. I might have made a very advan- 
tageous exchange, and remained in that country ; but I 
could not resist the temptation of coming to England, 
from anticipations of thedehght I should enjoy in recount- 
ing my life to a parent who had almost from my infancy 
been estranged from me. I had now heard, in the sudden 
and unexpected manner I have related, of that parent's 
death ! But, not to dwell longer on this painful subject, 
I made up my mind, that, notwithstanding what 1 had just 
learnt, I would stiil proceed to Saxmundham. On arriving 
there, I found living my father's two brothers, and my 
mother's sister. With the latter I took up my quarters, and 
spent a most happy fortnight under her roof. To enu- 
merate the alterations which had been made, both in places 
and persons, since I left my native village, or to detail the 
inquiries I had to answer, and the congratulations which 
poured in upon me from all quarters, would be as unin- 
teresting to the reader as it would be tedious to myself. 
My relations at Saxmundham are now all numbered with 
the dead. * 

I soon returned to Nottingham, and rejoined my regi- 
ment. From thence 1 was ordered to Wakefield, in 
Yorkshire, on the recruiting service. Here nothing but 
gayety prevailed ; and, as I was the only officer at the 
place for a considerable time, I received invitation upon 
invitation, to dinners, balls, and suppers ; and, to confess 
the truth, 1 thought myself no small personage, which, as I 
was now in the Grenadier Company, was not, in its literal 
sense, very easily to be controverted. 

While 1 was at this place, I was called upon to perform 
the office of secondi in an affair of honour between a 



MEMOIRS OF JOHN SHIPP. 126 

military officer of rather diminutive person, and a huge 
fellow of a civilian. The circumstances which gave rise 
to the quarrel were as follow : — 

Amon^ the fair attendants of a ball which was given 
one evening in the town, was a very pretty girl, on whose 
charms the tall gentleman had forsome time looked with amo- 
rous inclination, and whom, it is to be presumed, be there- 
fore wished to exclude from the attentions of all but him- 
self. The young lady herself, however, was not so exclu- 
sive in her notions ; and, accordingly, finding her conver- 
sation courted, and the favour of her hand solicited, by, a 
dashinglittle officer in handsome uniform (and who, though 
a warrior of somewhat small dimensions, was really a 
dapper, good-lookmg little- fellow), she made no scruple 
either of hstening to his; flattering tongue, or of accepting 
his hand for the dance. This preference of the man of 
steel so irritated his huge rival, that he determined to pass 
some insult upon him. He accordingly found a more 
compassionate lady as his partner ;. and, no sooner had the 
dance commenced, than betook the first opportunity which 
presented itself of treading, with all his weight, on the 
little officer's toes. In dancing down a second time, he 
played him the same trick. Our little hero did not think 
it much of a joke to have the full weight of a gentleman 
full six feet three in height, and stout in proportirm, twice 
on his toes within a few minutes ; but, as his tormentor 
made the most ample apologies on both occasions, he felt 
fully disposed to endure the pain with as much fortitude 
as possible, and to attribute the occurrence to accident ; 
wher* his little rustic beauty, who had more carefully 
watched and better understood the manoBovres of the 
neglected swain, whispered in his ear,—" A pointed insult, 
sir." These words roused the blood of the son of Mars 
in a moment ; ho watched the movements of his toe-tread- 
ing foe, and just as he was coming down the middle a 
third time, to repeat the trick, he jumped upon a chair, 
and from thence sprung on his enemy's back, and, 
seizing his hose, he wrung it in so unmerciful a manner, 
as to compel its proprietor to cry out most pitcousJy for 
liclp. The parties were at length separated by the master 
of the ceremonies, and a chaiienge was of course the 
11* 



126 MEMOIES.OF JCim SHIFF. 

result ; the gentleman whose nose had been thus scurvily 
treated, in the presence of almost ihe whole town, being 
compelled either to fight or to quit society. 

Mortal combat having been appointed to take place the 
next morning, it was arranged by the seconds that the 
principals were to be placed back to back, and that from 
dience each party was to step six paces, and then to fire 
together by signal. 

Preliminaries being thus concerted, and the fatal morn- 
ing having arrived, the parties met punctually at the ap- 
pointed spot, and were duly ranged with their backs to 
each other. At this moment the contrast between the 
courage of the two gentlemen was to the full as apparent 
as the ludicrous disproportion in their size. When I was 
placing them on the line drawn by me for their march, my 
little man, who possessed true "pluck," and was as Cool 
as a cucumber, observing the trepidation of his opponent, 
whispered to me, just loud enough to be overheard,—- 
" Where shall 1 hit him, Shipp ? Shall I wing him ?" On 
Clearing this, the knees of the six-foot Yorkshireman. 
which were already on the trot, broke into a full gallop ; 
and, when his second placed the pistol, duly primed and 
loaded, into his hand, he seized it by the muzzle. This 
mistake, as I always loved fair play, 1 rectified ; and, at 
last, the word ^' march was given. Away went long-legs, 
getting over at least three yards of ground at each stride ;, 
and, had we permitted him to proceed at this rate, the one 
might as well have lired from the top of St. Paul's, and the 
other from Table Mountain : so the seconds saved him the 
trouble of ex:tending his walk any further, by measuring 
twelve paces ; and, the signal having been given to fire, 
the little one's ball cut through the collar of his afirighted 
opponent's coat, and the big one's nearly shot his own toes 
off. At this crisis of the affair, the gigantic rustic was 
scarcely so tall as his little rival, and his knees and body 
were so inclined to take a more firm position, that we ex- 
pected every moment he would fall flat on the earth ; when 
Ms second roused him by saying,-^" Come, sir, we must 
have another shot." This brought him fully to his senses, 
and he exclaimed, throwing down his pistol, — '•! '11 see 
you d d first ; he has put it through my coat already, 



MEMOIRS OF Jon's SIIIPP. i2T 

and the next time I may get it where the tailor cannot 
mend it. No, no; I am perfectly satisfied; so I wish 
you a good morning." And off he trudged, at a pretty 
round pace, to the great amusement of the other three, as 
well as of some country bumpkins, who were grinning 
from behind an adjoining hedge, and who roared out,— 
•• Weil done, little un ; bravo, little robin-redbreast." By 
the result of this affair, the six-feet-three gentleman lost 
his honour as well as his deary, and the subject was the 
theme of many a song in Wakefield for years after. 

The routine of dissipation which was kept up at Wake- 
field, was not to be sustained by me without expense ; and 
to meet these expenses I spent more than my income. 
This extravagance — with the loss of fifty pounds of which 
I was robbed by ray servant, and the assistance of a de- 
signing sergeant, who took advantage of my youth and 
inexperience — soon . involved me in debts, to liquidate 
which, f was obliged to apply for permission to sell my 
commission. This, in consideration of my services, was 
readily granted ; and, having effected a sale, I paid every 
shilhng of my debts, and with the residue of the money 
repaired to London, where, in about six months, ITound 
myself without a shilling, without a home, and without a 
friend. Thus circumstanced, my fondness of the profes- 
sion induced me to turn my thoughts to the army agajn, 
J could see no earthly difficulty why I should not rise in 
the same way I had before ; and accordingly I enlisted at 
Westminster, in his Majesty's 24th Dragoons, and in two 
or three days after went with the recruiting-sergeant to 
the cavalry depot at Maidstone, then under the command 
of Major General George Hay. I had not been there long 
before an officer, who had served with me in campaigns 
in India, arrived at the depot, and immediately recognising 
me,- my history was made known to the commanding 
officer, and [ was promoted to the rank of sergeant. I 
remained at the depot about three months, at the expiration 
of which we were ordered to India, and I embarked as 
acting quarter-master on board the New Warren Hasting?, 
Captain Larkins, and sailed from Spithead on the 8th day 
of January, 1808. 

We experienced a most terrific gale in the British Chan- 



ViB MEMOIRS OF JOHN SHII'P. 

nel, and were at last obliged to run for Tofbay, where we 
brought up near where the East Indraman, the Aberga- 
venny, was lost. Near us lay a ship of war, from which, 
at the imminent hazard of the lives of an officer and six 
men, a boat was sent off to our ship, the crew of which, 
after riding in safety over the mountainous waves, desired 
us, in a most authoritative tone, to throw out a rope. All 
hands were at the leeward side in a moment, when there 
was a general whispering among the tars. "Shiver my 
timbers," said one, '' but that looks like a press." ''• Start 
me," said another, '■' but so it does." Thus went round 
the general buzz, when the man of authority, in size not 
much larger than a quicker,* with a sword as long as him- 
self, and a huge cocked-hiit, as big as a gatf-top-sail, 
which he sculled off with as much grace and majesty as a 
grand bashaw, flew up the side of the ship in an instant. 
He saluted the quarter-deck (as is usual), then mounted on 
tiptoe, and danced up to the captain, \i^ho was on deck, 
and, with the authority of an Admiral of the Red, de- 
manded to see the ship's books. At this sound every 
sailor writhed his features and limbs into the most ludi- 
crous distortions ; iso/neiimped, others stooped, and all did 
their utmost to appear as decrepit and unlit for service as 
possible. As our ship was then in imminent danger of 
going ashore, the captain remonstrated, setting forth the 
perilous situation of his ship, the number of lives, and the 
amount of property on board ; but, notwithstanding that 
we w^ere at that moment dragging our two anchors, the 
little officer persisted in obeying the orders of his com- 
mander, and walked off with six of our very best seamen. 
By the loss of these men, our ship was involved in double 
the danger she was in before, as they were our ablest hands. 
Whether or not this was a justifiable act, lam unacquaint- 
ed ; but its enforcement at such a conjuncture seems sadly 
at variance with the principles of humanity. Fortunately 
for us, however, the storm soon abated, and the following 
morning, ere the feathered tribe were on the wing, we 
again stood on our way towards our destined port. Our 
ship had suffered but little injury, and she now scudded 

* A false guu, made of wood, about two feet long. 



MEMOIRS OF JOHN SHirP. 129 

sweetly aion§ the blue waters, her white sails swoln with 
majestic pride, and the eye of every one on board linger- 
ing (until it was lost in the distance) on that dear isle from 
which we were so rapidly departing. After this, we had 
a long and tedious voyage, in which much misery was ex- 
perienced by all the troops on board, in consequence of 
the cruel and despotic conduct of our commanding officer. 
This gentleman is now no more ; and, if it were on this 
account only, I should refrain from mentioning his name. 
For this, and other reasons, I shall withhold from the 
reader all detail of conduct which I have myself long tried 
to forget ; and content myself by stating, in justification 
of the epithets applied by me to such conduct, that the 
cat-o"-nine-tails was constantly at work ; so much so, that 
Captain Larkins at length interfered, and protested " that 
he would not have his quarter-deck converted into a 
slaughter-house, nor the eyes of the ladies on board dis- 
gusted with the sight of the naked back of a poor scream- 
ing soldier, every time they came upon deck." 

The distant low-land peeping from afar, and the com- 
pany of little messengers from the myrtle- grove at length 
apprised us that we were in sight of the long-looked-for 
haven. The wind was contrary, and night had begun 
to throw over the silvery deep her sombre mantle, so that 
we were obliged to stand out to sea, to avoid getting into 
the currents that prevail near this land. Early in the 
morning it was dark and hazy, but at about ten o'clock it 
cleared up ; the sun shed his bright beams over the Indiasi 
Ocean ; the little harbinger of peace was again on tho 
wing ; and we again beheld the land : — 

Joy is upon the lonelj deep, 

When Indian forests pour 
Forth to the billow, and the breeze, 

Their odours from the shore. 

Oh ! welcome are the winds that tell 

A wanderer of the deep, 
Where far away the jasmines dwell, 

And where the myrrh-trees weep ! 
Blessed, on the sounding surge and foam, 
Are tidings of the citron's home ! 

All the passengers were now promenading the quarter- 
deck : some viewing the beauty of the scenery 5 others 



130 MEMOIRS OF JOHN SHIPP. 

whispering sad notes of farewell love ; and all anxiously 
looking forward to the moment of disembarkation. 

We were crowding ail possible sail to get tlie ship safe 
into the river by night. The wind was fair, and the sky 
was spotless, save here and there some little white flying 
clouds, that seemed to dance about us. In an instant 
after the ship was thrown on her beam-ends, her gunwales 
under water, and passengers tumbling and rolling over 
©ach other. The crew had to struggle hard to keep her 
head above water. Every eye was wildly fixed on the 
captain, and every cheek wore a deatWike paleness. At 
last, away went her foretop-mast, top-gallant and royal- 
mast, foreyard, main-royal-mast, main-top-gallant, and 
maintop-mast; and her mizen-mast was much injured. 
In that short moment the cup of bliss was dashed from 
our lips, and we lay a complete wreck upon the water ; 
but, the masts having gone, carrying every tiling before 
them, and the ship having righted, every hand was as 
instantaneously set to work, and busily employed in reme- 
dying the evils and clearing the wreck. It was imagined 
at first that the ship had gone ashore ; but, on trying the 
pumps, it appeared that she had made no water. We 
soon discovered that our misfortune was occasioned by 
what are termed, in those seas, white squalls. These 
come on without any previous indication ; and, though 
of short duration, are so destructive while they last, that 
no ship under heavy sail can stand against them. These 
squalls are most frequent when the sky is clearest. They 
are supposed to be contained in those little white flying 
clouds, which, previous to the storm, are seen hovering 
over the ship, as though watching to catch the mariners 
off their guard v 

We were again obliged to stand out to sea ; but we 
soon cleared away, and once more stood towards land. 
The day was rainy and hazy, when, through the darksome 
mists, we beheld a sail, and soon discovered, to our great 
joy, that it was the boat of a Calcutta pilot, who imme- 
diately came on board our vessel. On examining the 
masts, we discovered that the maintop-mast would not' 
bear sail ; therefore, splinters and stays wer« imme- 
diately put on. The day brightened up, but the wind 



3IEM0IRS 01^ JOHN SHIPP. ISi 

blew strong ; so, not being able to discover landmarks, 
we cast anchor for the night. The next morning we 
found that we were so close to land that we could see 
men walking on the sea-beach, and distinguish huts and 
towns in the distance. We weighed anchor early, and 
stood towards Saugar, the wind blowing a smart gale. 
At one time we approached so near the breakers that we 
expected to go ashore, and a tew minutes after we shipped 
a tremendous sea, the major part of which went over the 
poop, and through the great cabin- windows, carrying 
trunks, boxes, beds, and every thing before it. I was 
on deck at the time : the ship's stern seemed to be 
fastened, and she shook much : but at last on she went, 
I have no hesitation in saying that her stern struck tJie 
ground, but no injury was done beyond sousing a few 
few trunks and beds. We at last reached Saugar in 
safety ; but before we arrived there, our feelings were 
excited to a high pitch of sympathy by an interesting 
scene. Captain Larkias was standing on the poop, close 
by where I stood, with his glass at his eye, examining the 
ships which were lying at anchor, when he suddenly ex- 
claimed, ^^ I surely know that ship lying yonder ; my 
eyes cannot deceive me, — it 's my old ship, the Warren 
Hastings." The pilot was requested to go within hail of 
her. All hands were upon deck ; every eye fixed on the 
strange ship ; and sailors and soldiers manned the rigging. 
The captain got the large speaking-trumpet, and bellowed 
out, " What ship, a-hoy ?" — Answer, " The Warren 
Hastings — what ship are you ?"— -Answer, " The New 
Warren Hastings." Here the shouting of the crews of 
both ships was quite deafening. Our captain could not 
say a syllable more, but was so much affected as to shed 
a tear to the me^mory of his old ship, which he had man- 
fully defended, but lost to some French ship-of-war. She 
had been retaken by some of our cruizers. 

A short time after this we came to anchor a little above 
Saugar ; and the following day we were shipped on 
board sloops, and sailed up the river Hoogley, and in 
about a week came to anchor off Fort William, Calcutta, 
and were again placed on terra Jirma. We remained in 
the fort about a fortnight, and while boats were in prepa° 



I 



13S MElMOIRS OF JOHN SIIIPP. 

ration for our conveyance up the river Ganges, to our 
respective regiments, all was gayety and mirth. 

The monsoons, or rainy season, having commenced, 
we sailed from Calcutta, under the command of Colonel 
Wade, on the route to Cawnpore, where we arrived in safety 
in about three months, with the loss of seven or eight men 
drowned, and of a few others, who died from having eaten 
too freely of unripe fruit. 



CHAPTER XL 

It is my intention to devote this chapter to a few prac- 
tical hints to young men about to embark for India, either 
m the civil or military service. The remarks which I 
shall make, being the resuU of personal observation during 
a service of twenty-five years in that country, will not, 1 
trust, be unacceptable, either to the young men them- 
selves, or to their parents or guardians. As the whole 
chapter will be engrossed by this subject, which, to many 
readers, may prove wholly uninteresting, it seems fair at 
its outset to give them to understand what they are to 
* expect, in order that an opjvortunity may be afforded them 
(o *'skip" if they think proper. 

First, as to the outfit for India. A gentleman came to 
me some few months since,' and said, *' I hare been given 
to understand. Sir, that you have been a considerable 
time in the East Indies. I have an only son, now on 
the eve of embarkfng for that country, as a cadet; will 
you have the goodness to inform me what necessaries 
will be requisite for his passage ? Some say it will cost 
two, some three, others, four hundred pounds. I should 
wish to make my boy comfortable, but if a large sum be 
required, it will place me in difficulties." 1 replied, 
" Sit down. Sir, and 1 will soon ease your mind on that 
head, by reducing the sum requisite to meet such demands, 
to something less than one hundred pounds." The fol- 
lowing is a copy of the list I gave him, and this was on a 



MEMOIRS OF JOHN SHIP!'. 133 



splendid scale; the one half might, if there were an ab- 
solute necessity for it, suffice : _ 



L s. d. 
4 dozen calico. shirts, without frills at - - 5s. each 12 

1 dozen night-shirts - - - - - -- --3s. each 1 16 

% calico night-caps ---------Is. each 6 

1 dozen sheets --------.. 4s. 6d. per pair 2 14 

4 dozen hand-towels -------- lOd. each 2 

6 pair cotton loose sleeping-trousers - - - 3s. each 18 

1 dozen half-cravats -------- Is. each 12 

4 black stocks .-.- 3s. each 12 

1 dozen pair of nankeen pantaloons or trousers 15s. per pair 8 
6 pair of light shoes -------- lOs. per pair 3 

2 pair of boots - - - \l. per pair 2 

2 pair of slippers -4s. per pair 8 

2 dozen pair of stockings ------ 2s. per pair 140 

6 pair of worsted ditto - - - - - - - - 3s. 6d. per pair 110 

2 dozen pair of half-stockings ----- Is. per pair 140 

6 flannel shirts 5s. each 1 10 

2 black waistcoats -- - 14s. each 18 

4 white waistcoats -.----.-. 14s. each 2 16 

2 dozen pocket handkerchiefs - - - - - Is. each 14 

2 pair of cloth pantaloons ------ 1/. 14s. each 38 

2 black silk jackets for hot weather - - - H. each 2 

1 cloth ditto 2 

1 good dress coat --------- ------600 

4 pounds of wax candles ------- 3s. per lb. 12 

Wash-hand stand, cot, soap, &c. &c. -- - 600 

£62 13 

The whole of these things being adapted for a warm 
climfite, will form part of the young man's requisite stock 
for clothing in India, while other things would be found 
entirely useless on his arrival, as too heavy and warm 
for the country. The only thing that mast be an actual 
loss would be the warm clothing taken out. Of these, 
but a change will be required. 1 have seen a cadet sell 
in India, for ten or twenty rupees, articles that must have 
cost his parents a hundred pounds, some of which he had 
never put on his back. If parents have money to give 
their sons, let it lay the foundation of a capital in India,, 
on which to build a fortune. Money, on board a ship, 
leads youth to the gambling-table, thereby sowing the 
seeds of that destructive vice which may lead to his utter 
ruin. The monotonous life during an Indian voyage 
naturally turns the minds of warm-spirited youth to every 
species of amusement. Play is proposed by some artful 

Vol. I.--12 



134 aiEMOIKS OF JOHN SHIFF, 

gambler— at first for mere trifles — from which they g& 
on to larger sums, so much so that I have known several 
joung men land in India, without a shirt to their backsj 
having lost them at play during the voyage. 

The dreadful consequences of this vice require no 
commentary from me. Gambling, in India, is not what 
it was twenty years ago, it 's true ; but even now many 
are its victims, who must linger out the residue of their 
days in despair, in vain sighing for their dear native 
homes. 

A young man, on landing in India, should carry this 
conviction with him, — that nine-tenths of the native 
servants are decided thieves. For this reason, all the 
clothes, &c. should be marked, and the vigilance of the 
master of the goods is absolutely necessary to insure 
their safety. Various are the tricks played off on the 
inexperienced by their native servants : and, if one is 
turned away for theft or other delinquency, it is always 
ten to one that his successor is worse. Hence, it is bet- 
ter to keep to one set of servants, if possible, and nothing 
but personal watchfulness will insure their honesty. 

When the washermen take clothes to be washed, the 
pockets, and sleeves, and legs of pantaloons should be 
carefully searched, by which process they will generally 
be delivered of something valuable : such as silk stock- 
ings, silk hanrlkerchieft, and so on. Old clothes should 
never be given to servants, or they will assuredly, sooner 
or later, find their way back into the trunks of their old 
master, and be replaced by some of his better ones. 

A master who keeps only just so many things as are 
absolutely necessary for his comfort, will be far less likely 
to be robbed, than one who abounds in superfluities. 

The servants should be paid nsonthly, and each should 
be made responsible for the things placed under his 
charge, which things should be required to be produced 
by them previous to their being paid. Nothing contri- 
butes so much to keep a servant in India honest, as the 
conviction that his master is well acquainted with, and 
looks after, his own property. 

Many, on their first arrival in India, in their eagerness 
to feed on the delicious fruits of that country, sow thu 



MEMOIRS OF JOHN SHIPP. 136 

seeds of a disease that tbey scarcely ever part with but 
in death— dysentery. Young men should recollect that 
their stomachs are not likely to adapt themselves sud- 
denly to the strong and powerful acids contained in pine- 
apples, mangoes, pomegranates, &c. Many young men 
die from their too free use of these fruits ; and those 
who escape an early tomb are scarcely ever restored to 
perfect health. I have often seen the most deplorable 
spectacles of men lingering out a wretched existence 
through an excessive use of fruit. The pine, 1 am con- 
vinced, it is at all times d^ogerous to eat much of; and 
I would strongly recommend young persons, on their 
arrival in India, to refrain from indulging in thisi tempting 
and delicious fruit, if they wish to avoid becoming early 
victims to its fascinating and luxuriant taste. Mangoes 
are less palatable, but less prejudicial to the constitution. 
I would recommend plaintain and the custi^rd-apple as 
the best fruits after the outward voyage, and these should 
be, for some time, used with moderation and caution. 

A free use of spirituous liquors drives many youths to 
an early tomb. If once resorted to to quenrh thirst, in 
a climate like India, it will soon allure the individual into 
habitual sottishness. Therefore, look well before you 
take the proffered cup of liberality ; it contains a poison- 
ous ingredient, and, if taken to excess, is in reality the 
cup of destruction. If it be requisite that you should 
drink spirits at all, which I very much doubt, let it be 
within the bounds of sober prudence, and with a fair 
proportion of the crystal stream. I have myself spent 
as long a time in India as any young man going out as 
cadet in the company's service would be required to 
serve. I am now in England, at the age of forty-three, 
in the enjoyment of perfect health, with the exception 
of occasional twinges from my wounds ; and I do not 
hesitate to attribute this to the fact of having always 
rigorously followed that advice which I now offer to 
others. 

Though bathing, in so hot a climate as India, is abso- 
iutely necessary, as well for cleanliness as for the pro- 
motion of health, yet there are many sad evils attending 
the. mode of doing so. I would strongly recommend 



»' 



136 MEMOIRS OF JOHN SHIP?. 

bathing from the shower-bath^ as the best method, and 
the most congenial to the constitution. Immersion Ir^ 
any shape is attended with extreme danger. The sud- 
den transition from heat to cold, is too great a shock for 
most constitu^ions in so Wcjrm a clime, where the state of 
the blood is always that of fermentation, I would re- 
commend the morning as the best time for taking the 
shower-bath, and then from well-water, which is always 
warm. This is done by a bheesty, or water-carrieFy 
standing above you, and pouring it over you from his 
sheep or goat-skin, in which he carries water for your 
use. After bathing, when the skm has been wiped dry, 
let your bearer use the rubbers freely. This will set 
the blood in circulation, and contribute greatly to health 
and comfort. The baths in India, which are generally 
made in the earth, are intensely cold, and ought not to 
be used except with the greatest caution. The greatest 
care should be taken that the body is sufficiently cool 
before plunging in ; and, afterwards, that the bather does 
not remain too long in the water, a practice which can 
only serve further to impair a constitution already weak- 
ened by copious perspiration. I have seen people, after 
indulging in this Indian luxury, so languid that they have 
been obliged to be led to their couch. If the evil is 
within reach in those nights when the dry heat defies 
language, few could resist such a temptation. On such 
occasions, I have found rubbing with worsted mittens^ 
which are used for the purpose of creating circulation 
of blood, to have a very good eifect. 1 have felt as re- 
freshed from this rubbing as 1 have from bathing. Some 
desperate young men I have known apply wet cloths to 
their bodies when the heat has been great. A dreadful 
iheumatism is the sure consequence of such rashness. 

Sad and many are the diseases brought on by sleeping 
exposed to the night air. This may, perhaps, be done 
with impunity for years, but rest assured, like all other 
indiscretions, it will terminate in disease and repentance ; 
as, however dry and hot the midnight may be, heavy 
dews are sure to come on, on the approach of morning- 
It is not an unusual thing for young and inexperienced 
men to drink cold water when in a heated state, and that. 



MEMOIES OP JOHN SHIPP. 137 

too, with the greatest avidity. This is frequently attended 
with sudden death. I would recommend weak brandy 
and water instead of pure water. Many of the running 
streams are impregnated with poisonous matter from 
snakes and toads, and other venontous animals. I would 
also recommend that whatever is drunk should be drunk 
gradually, and when the body is cool and ihe blood com- 
posed. I am ot opinion, and I speak from experience, 
that to imprudences of this kind may be attributed the 
one-half of the diseases to which young men tall early 
victims. I would, on no account whatever, .'iuddenly ex- 
pose the body to any temperature different ii&m that to 
which it has been accustomed. A ptr^on who wishes to 
live in health in India, must certainly nurse the consti- 
tution. However people may ridicule the use of the 
chattah, or large umbrella used in India, and however 
curious it may appear to a young man on bis landing, it 
is, notwithstanding, abi*ohnely requisite to shield the 
brain from a scorching sun ; more especially on first 
landing. If you can afford a palanquin, by all means 
sport one, by which you will be saved from many a 
burning fever. With attention, and by studying the 
season, it is my opinion that a man may live in India as 
long as in a colder and more salubrious country; but 
care is certainly requisite. However Johnny-Newcome- 
like it may appear to a European eye, 1 would, notwith- 
standing, strongly recommend the use of the broad - 
brimmed solah hat. These hats are macte of pith, are 
extremely light, and effectually keep the sun from the 
head. They are to be y^urchased in Calcutta, and many 
parts of India, for a mere trifle ; but, where they cannot 
be procured, straw hats, the crown of which ought to 
be well stuffed, and the brim lined with green silk, will 
make a very good substitute. 

I would recommend the early adoption of flannel shirts, 
which will be found very conducive to health, by keep- 
ing the blood in motion, absorbing the perspiration, and 
keeping the skin from that disagreeable dryness which it 
is liable to in the hot winds. 

In the cold weather, I would recommend the use of 
worsted stockings, either with shoes or boots. From the 
12* 



J3g MEMOIKS OP JOHN SHIP?. 

extreme languidness to which the hot season has reduced 
the system, the extremities should be taken great care 
of, and flannel used freelj. 1 do not know any exercise 
better in the cold season, than long walke, or long rides 
on horseback ; the rougher the nag the better. Smoking, 
on cold mornings and evenirgs, may be judicious ; but, 
in the hot season, this practice drains the body of the 
littU- moisture left by the cliniaie. The use of the 
hookah, I am persuaded, injures fifteen constitutions in 
twenty. It would be better for a man to blow bagpipes 
all the days of his life, than to be lugging and puffing at 
the hookuh. Besides this, the expense attending this 
Eastern luxury is enormous :— 

Rupees. 
Tobacco, per month ------- 8 

Kose-water, do. ---------4 

Spicee, do. ----------2 

Hookahbahdar, do. --------8 

Cooly, to carry the same, do. - - - ?• 4 
Repairing of apparatus, &c. - - - - - 4 

30 per montb; 
or 360 rupees per annum. 

i would advise all persons proceeding to India to use 
no other water for drinking than that which has beeii 
previously boiled. This process will cleanse the water 
' of all injurious matter that may be contained in it. Alum 
will be found useful in purifying water ; but boiling is 
preferable to any other means. 

Sore eyes are prevalent in India, arising from manj 
causes. I have no hesitation in asserting, that looking 
up at a vertical moon will injure the sight. I speak from 
positive fact : one night, sleeping on the poop of an East 
Indiaman, on my voyage to Indsn, I lay on my back, gazing 
for a considerable time at the bright and spotless moon. 
Thus gazing, I fell ofif to sleep. On the following morn- 
ing, when I awoke, I felt a most unpleasant itching in the 
eyes, and I couki scarcely refrain Irom tearing them out 
of my head. I immediately applied to a medical gentle- 
man on board, who said it was the ophthalmia ; but when 
} informed him what 1 had done, he replied,— ^' Yoia 



MEMOIRS OF JOHN SHUT. 189 

could not do a worse thing to inj\ire the eyes ; and, if 
you don't take care, you may lose your sight, for I see a 
great degree of inflammation has already taken place •, 
your only plan, now, is to keep the light from them." 
After this, it was some weeks before they were again 
strong enough to meet any considerable light. Weak 
brandy and water is frequently used to strengthen the 
sight, and I have found the most salutary effects from it. 
The other causes are generally known : I therefore pass 
them over. 

There is a most disagreeable visiter in India, about the 
commencement of the rams, or during the hot winds, 
called the prickly heat, which is attended with the most 
unpleasant and annoying sensations. It makes its appear- 
ance by little spots, or white bladders, on the surface of 
the skin, with intense itching; so much so, that few can 
resist the temptation of aggravating these symptoms by 
scratching themselves. This arises, I should suppose, 
from the effect of th^^ cold night-breezes on a heated 
state of the blood. The cold breezes of night are inhaled 
with avidity, as an ineffable luxury ; but these winds, 
being dry, absorb the perspiration, which, being thus sud- 
denly checked, causes these itching bladders to rise on 
the surface of the skm. I have seen people so bad with 
this eruption, especially under the arms, that they have 
been ready to tear themselves to pieces. Some young 
and inexperienced men attempt to stop the progress of this 
eruption ; but this should never be tried, as I have heard 
some of the most learned of the faculty affirm, that it 
eradicates other diseases, and cleanses and purifies the 
blood. 1 suffered every year, for five-and-twenty years^ 
I'rom this supposed evil of climate, as much as any one^ 
but I never attempted to check it. Many of those who 
did, I have known fall victims to the supposed remedies^ 
or sow the seeds of a confirmed rheumatism, which they 
could never shake ofi'. The remedies resorted to by 
these deluded men speak for themselves as most erro- 
neous and dangerous : applications of cold cloths to the 
body, — lying naked in the cold air, — being fanned, — and 
every kind of cold application that could be thought ofo 
1 have known men bathe with their clothes on, and thus 



140 MEMOIRS GF JOHN SHIPP. 

lie down to repose. Such imprudences require no com-^ 
ment, as the results must be evident. The onl}' remedy 
I ever adopted, and that b^ medical advice, was powder- 
ing the rawest parts. Application oi the nails is like 
infusing poison into the veins,— and by such applications 
I have seen the most appaDmg sores, that never were got 
rid of; therefore, I am convinced, that in these cases 
nature should be allowed to take her course, and she 
will be found the best doctor. 

About the ?ame time of the year, you will be visited 
with boils all over your body. A little boy of mine once 
had sixty-fcur at one time, some of them as big as a 
pigeon's egg, and those principally on his chest. Had I 
checked them, and driven them in, his death would have 
been inevitable : as it was, although the child was only 
four years of age, he played about as usual, and was soon 
well again. Another thing I would never check,— -that 
is, perspiration ; that renovating attendant, flowing in its 
natural channel, is the very key-stone to an Indian con- 
stitution. 

I would advise the inexperienced on no account to 
venture bathing in the Ganges. In this river there are 
many dangerous parts, not visible to him who is a stranger 
to its course and currents. Three instances that I was 
an eye-witness to, would, I should hope, be a sufficient 
warning for men not to risk their lives in so foolish a 
manner. I was one day shooting on the borders of the 
Ganges, near Cawnpore, when I saw a native sitting 
down on the banks of the river, washing his hands. In 
an instant he was seized by an alligator. I could see the 
dreadful struggle, by the commotion in the water, and the 
blood which for a moment discoloured it, but the man 
never rose again. The second instance was a European 
soldier, bathing off Monghire ; and the third was a little 
girl ; both of whom were seized by an alligator, and car- 
ried off in the same manner. Besides the risk of meet- 
ing with those fearful creatures, there are innumerable 
quiksands, which move in the current, and, for aught you 
can tell, under the very spot where you are bathing; 
and, added to these, there are numberless eddies, or 
whirlpools, that will suck you under in a moment. Oft 



MEMOIRS OF JOHN SHIPP. 141 

these occasions, it is very rare that aid can be afforded^ 
even if persons were on the spot at the time. On two 
occasions, I myself nearly lost my life in bathing. The 
first was in a quicksand, but I was only on the verge of 
it ; one step further, and no power could have saved me. 
On the other occasion, I was bathing m the Ganges (it 
was the last time I ever bathed, although many years 
before I returned to this country) ; 1 was trying to swim 
against the current, when a dead man came in contact 
with me. In the moment of fright ind consternation, i 
sunk. In my struggle to get away from him I got the 
cramp, and immediately went down, and but for the kind 
aid of some natives, I should have been drowned. 

Many difficulties may be avoided, and much imposition 
and extortion prevented, by an early acquirement of the 
language. I recollect being once called upon to inter- 
pret and explain a khan-sumah's (or, more properly 
named, consumer's) bill, and thus it ran : — 



Rs. a. p. 

Bread - 10 

Rootee 086 

Butter 14e 

Muckin 12 

Milk 8 

Dood .-.-,- 4 6 

So it went on, charging the article first under the English 
term, and then under a term quite unintelligible to you. 
Thus, for instance, the words rootee, muckin, and dood, 
are to you inexplicable terms, which your khansumah 
will take good care he will '' no Englify." Hence, you 
are led to imagine them requissle for the house, and thus 
the imposition ends successfully. As you grow wiser, 
your servants grow more honest. To prevent these, and 
numberless other annoyances, the acquirement of the 
language is absolutely necessary for a person who does 
not wish to be robbed, and to become the dupe of those 
artful fellows. I learned the tongue myself m one yearj 
so that I could converse fluently on any subject. I was 
enabled to do this the more readily, by living in a friendly 
and familiar intercourse with the natives, making a point 



142 MEMOIRS OF JOHN SHIPP, 

of entering into conversation with every roan, woman, or 
child I met with, asking them the names of every thing 
within my sight. By this plan, m two months I could 
esk for any of the necessaries of life. Those most diffi- 
cult I wrote down ; and thus, without book or master, I 
learned to speak Hindostanee as well as many, and indeed 
better than some, vi ho had been in the courstry for twenty 
years. If you wish to learn the language, Gilchrist's 
book will lay a good foundation, and the rest will be easy 
enough. On no account hire » servant who can speak 
English, In the first place, they are generally found to 
be great rogues; and, by their speaking E^nglish to you, 
you deprive yourself of the best and most ready method 
of becoming acquainted with the language. I have heard 
some young men commit the most ludicrous mistakes, and 
thus become the ridicule and hport of their native ser- 
vants. One wiseacre, in a regiment to which I once 
belonged, addressed his servant one day in the following 
terms : — *' D — n your eyes, you black rascal, subsaib 
huckery^ — hum buckery nay hy?''^ Which is literally this, 
- — all the gentlemen were goats, was he not a goat? He 
intended to say that all his brother offers had got goats, 
what was the reason he had not got one. Such mistakes 
as these very naturally draw upon a man the jeers of the 
natives. In the Company's service, you cannot hold any 
staff situation without being well acquainted with the lan- 
guages most in use. All civil and military affairs are so 
connected with the Oriental languages, that if you do not 
study and learn them, you may lir.gf r out your days as a 
lean subaltern, and be as poor as a half-pay drummer. 

The next piece of advice which I shall offer, is to 
avoid all violent sports and exercises. Among other 
sports, that of snipe-shooting is frequently attended with 
very bad consequences, and is, in general, much better 
avoided. The physical exertion which must necessarily 
be used in pursuit of such game, cannot fail to heat the 
blood to a high and dangerous degree, and in this state, 
^nder a burning sun, and while the blood is in a state of 
fermentation, many lovers of the sport will plunge into 
cold water after birds. Such a sudden transition froHi 
extreme heat to extreme coldj cannot be endured by the 



MEMOIRS OP JOHN SHIPP. 14S 

finest constitutions without great danger. All sports of 
this nature tend, also, to encourage an inclination for 
drink. The toils incident to these misnaraed pleasures 
cannot be borne without drinking something stronger 
than water ; and hence, some stimulus being absolutely 
necessary, many are led to exceed the bounds of pru- 
dence to such an extent, in some oa«ses, that I have known 
several instances where an individual has drank, in the 
course of one day's shooting, a whole bottle of brandy,, 
besides copious Hbations of beer. Thus, many a man, by 
his love for shooting, lays the foundation of an addiction 
to drink, to which he is sure to fall a victim ; and I have 
seen several instances where the combined effects of ex- 
posure to the sun, and of mdulgence in intemperance, 
have, in less than two years, sent many a promising young 
man to the cold grave, before he had attained the age of 
twenty, although, to all appearance, double that age. In 
short, I am fully persuaded (and, if necessary, I could 
give a long and faithful catalogue of cases in point), that^ 
in fifteen cases out of twenty, whenever a young man in 
India is found labouring under a debilitated and emaciated 
constitution, the original cause of his disease is to be 
traced either to an addiction to drink, a wanton exposure 
to the noon-day sun, or a rash indulgence in violent 
sports and exercises. I fear that it may safely be asserted, 
that more die from one or the other of these causes^ 
than from the eifects of the climate. 

Young men should be very cautious of attending auc- 
tions. The very perusal of the exaggerated catalogues 
which are issued, i^ of itself a sutlicient seduction to 
rouse the torpid mind in the monotony of the long days 
in India, and to induce young men to attend those places 
of resort. Each article (more especially such as are the 
production of our native land) is set forth in all the 
allurement of bombast, and dressed in the most attractive 
garments, to induce inexperienced youth to become the 
purchasers. The seller also protests that " the article 
offered for their bidding is now about to be knocked down 
for less than the one^half of its original cost in England ; 
that he is actually throwing the article away ; but it must 
be sold for whatever it brings, httle or much." The 



144 MEMOIRS OF JOHN SHIPP. 

auctioneer again appeals to some inexperienced younggriil^ 
calling him by name, — " Do pray, Cornet so-and-so, per- 
mit me to say another rupee for you,"-— at the same time 
pledging his honour that the said article cost five times 
the sum in Old England. The production is, of course, 
afterwards, found to be a true native of India. These, 
and five hundred other stratagems to inveigle the unwary 
into bidding, are reported to ; but no sooner is the article 
knocked down to master's name, than the honourable 
auctioneer tells him to his face that it is " not worth a 
rap." The deluded purchaser of an articlie which he 
has no earthly use for, finds, when too late, that he could 
have bought the said thing in any of the biizaars for one 
half of the price he has given. Another, and more se- 
ductive, temptation to men to become buyers at these 
sales, is the three months' credit which is frequently 
given. I have seen cadets buy three horses at one sale 
— horses that had run the gauntlet through the whole of 
the auctions in India, and never drew an offer of five 
rupees at one of them, till some griff becomes the pur- 
chaser, at some two hundred rupees each. These are 
sent to livery-stables as soon as they are bought (if the 
stable-keeper will take them in), at one rupee per diem; 
and, if their projuietor's purse is not a long one, the 
said rips will be detained for their keep, and their mas- 
ter summoned before a court of equity for the amount, 
when, if not prepared with the coin, the said court (such 
is their rigid equity) will detain his mortal person 
until the liquidation of the debt, with sundry costs, fees, 
&c. kc. On such occasions, if a man has no friends, and 
less credit, he may, peradventure, be lodged in jail till 
the final arrangement of the affair. Many of these auc- 
tioneers will force things on you, and no sooner get your 
name on their books, than they send a peremptory de- 
mand for the money, which, if not immediately forth- 
coming, in some one or two days after, you will have a 
summons from the court before alluded to, which you 
must at once attend to, by proceeding thither, either to 
defend the cause or pay the money. If you are a mo- 
ment behind the time specified, you are nonsuited, and 
obliged to pay, or remain in custody. Natives, called 



MBMOIKS OF JOHN SHIPf- 145 

hox'wallahs^ or hawkers, will, in like manner, force their 
goods on those unacquainted with this court, as they are 
sure of recovering their money through its agency. 
Merchants, both European anrl Natives, will do the same 
thing, and use the same mode of recovery, if you should 
prove refractory. 

Almost all young men, on landing, will be surrounded 
by five hundred sircars, or babboos (money-lenders). 
These miscreants are the greatest rogues unhung. They 
will buy all your old clothes, or, more properly, steal 
them, and purchase you others, for which they will 
charge an enormous price. These articles, washed, 
starched, and ironed for immediate use, look well to the 
eye, but, on being agaiu washed, will appear something 
like the honour of the auctioneer, rather threadbare, and 
not of a texture to bear scrutiny. These sircars will 
lend you money on interest ; but they will not lend you 
even a hundred rupees, if they are not permitted to 
purchase your sea kit at their own price, as well as your 
new kit, to rig you out for service in India. In these 
cases, they always insist on having your promissory note 
for the full amount ; and they will afterward take espe- 
cial care that you do not leave Calcutta without handing 
out either the money, or such a guarantee as shall be 
unquestionable. To enumerate the rogueries of these 
pests, would fill up more space, and occupy more time, 
than I have inclination to dedicate to them. Suffice, that 
they, one and all, are the greatest set of rascals in India, 
and that 's saying great things. Through the munificent 
liberality and the admirable arrangements of the East 
India Company, these things have now been in a great 
measure done away with. On the cadet's landing, there 
is a receiving-officer, and a mess, and every thing else 
that is requisite is furnished on the cheapest terms. 
The impositions of these sircars, who hover around a 
griff in the most subservient and cringing manner, beg- 
ging and entreating " Master's favour, custom, at^d pa- 
tronage," are thus prevented. The cadet, if in want of 
any thing that is reasonable, has only to apply to the 
receiving officer of the cadet depot, who will purchase 
the article for him at the cheapest rate, deducting its 

Vol, L — 13 



146 MEMOIRS OF JOHN SHIPP. 

amount by small instalments from his pay. He may be 
furnished with boats to proceed up the river on the same 
terms, — as also with an advance of pay to meet the re- 
quired expenses. 

Whatever sums of money you pay, no matter to whom, 
— black, white, tawny, brown, or nankeen-coloured,- — 
always take and keep receipts, or you will have to pay 
your bills twice and thrice over. This is a common 
trick with the natives. 

It is natural for young men, on first landing in any 
country, to wish to do as others do, and to conform, as 
far as possible, to the usages of those with whom they 
are obliged to associate. This desire to imitate others 
must be very cautiously indulged in ; for I regret to say 
that, among the luxuries of the East, sensual pleasures 
stand pre-eminent, and cannot be too severely repro- 
bated, or too carefully guarded against. Here the most 
shameful and barefaced intrigues are carried on under 
the very eyes of the magistracy; and thus it becomes a 
mere matter of lounge for a young man first to resort to 
drinking-houses, and thence to repair to scenes of pro- 
fligacy, which I cannot describe, where, at noon-day, he 
indulges his before uncorrupted passions, until at last he 
becomes an habitual debauchee, and sinks into the grave 
an early victim to sensuality, perhaps without a friend to 
soothe his sad pillow of disease, or to close his dying 
eyes. In a printed book intended for general circula- 
tion, it is impossible for me to dwell more minutely on 
this subject ; but I have thought it my duty to point out 
to the unwary traveller the gulf which lies before him, 
in order that he may in time turn from the path which 
leads to it. 

I proceed to light my beacon on another prominent 
rock, on which multitudes have already been wrecked, 
A youns; man, on joining his regiment, which happens to 
be stationed in some remote part of the country, instead 
of meeting with that hospitality and friendly association 
which he has a right to expect at a well-regulated mess 
(the great basis of unanimity among the officers of a 
corps), finds every officer of the regiment living sepa- 
rate, and keeping native women. With these women they 



I 



MEMOIRS OP JOHN Sllirl'. 147 

Spend the greater part of their time, to the entire neglect 
of the more intellectual and rational pursuits of men. 
With such examples before his eyes ; at a solitary place, 
far from any large station, where good society is to be 
met with ; deprived of the company of his brother 
officers, and doomed to a life of unvaried monotony; the 
inexperienced youth who joins the regiment is but too 
often induced to fall in with the prevailing folly ; and, at 
length, instigated by others, and seduced by the amorous 
professions of a mercenary fair (or rather black) one. 
he consents to keep her and her numerous attendants. 
This connexion being formed, he may, probably, ask 
himself this question ; — "Who is it that I have thus se- 
lected to be my companion,-^the sharer of my fortunes, 
the participator of my cares, the solace of my woes, and 
the partner of my bed ?" If he does not know, I will 
tell him, in plain terms, but without the least exaggera- 
tion. She is a black woman, labouringunder the influence 
of dark idolatry ; so ignorant as to be wholly untit for 
your companion ; so immodest and lascivious as to be 
disgusting ; jealous in her disposition ; cruel in her na- 
ture ; despotic to your household ; extravagant in her 
expenditure ; and her sole object in connecting herself 
with you, is the mercenary prospect of having herself, 
and those whom she may please to call her relations, 
kept at your expense. This, young man, is a true cha- 
racter of the object you have selected to spend your 
days with. 

To a consciousness of the consequences of this illicit 
and vicious connexion, a man is first awakened by the 
inharmonious jabber of half a dozen black bantlings sur- 
rounding his table, which groans under huge dishes of 
curry and rice. When each little darkling is ushered 
into the world, gold bangles are expected for the mother, 
silver ones for the nurses, new dresses for all the lady's 
relations, and a grand dinner to her whole circle of ac- 
quaintance, — at least fifty persons. When the darling 
little creature is christened, a similar routine of expendi- 
ture must be quietly submitted to, to which is usually 
added an entertainment to your brother officers, on which 
truly interesting occasion you would be accounted but a 



148 MEMOISS OF JOHN SHIPP. 

shabby fellow if you did not sport sparkling champagne. 
When the child begins to toddle, there is another day of 
jubilee, — for all which rejoicing poor " master" pays the 
piper. Then comes the day when the little duck begins 
to lisp the endeaung naoies of pa' and ma'. This is an- 
other gala-day ; and, before all these holydays have been 
duly observed, the probability is that "master" receives 
an addition to his already-crowded circle, by the produc- 
tion of another dear little stranger with master's nose 
and eyes. 

Thus goes on the life of a man who has once formed 
a connexion of the kind of which I speak, till at last he 
awakens to reflection and remorse, and distractedly asks 
himself—" What have I been doing? What is to be- 
come of these children ? Can I abandon them ? Am I 
not already a beggar, for ever estranged fronr. my native 
land, and cut off from all chance of again seeing my dear 
relations in England!" Alas! these reflections are too 
late, and it remnins only for the victim of his own folly 
to consider what he has remaining which may console 
him. Has he love ?— No, Has be peace of mind ? — 
No. Are the children which he is supporting his own ? 
— Very doubtful, even this. Is his mode of life such as 
he can reconcile to his principles or feelings? — No. In 
short, he has nothing but (he gratification of a sensual 
appetite to set against all the misery which must inevita- 
bly be entailed on him by its indulgence. His moral 
principles become vitiated ; his prospects for the future 
cannot fail to be blighted ; and he has little but wretch- 
edness to look forward to. 1 have myself known ofiicers 
intimately who have formed these sad connexions, and 
who, although they certainly did not absolutely become 
Mussulmen or Hindoos, yet have been so infatuated as 
to lose, to all appearance, every thought for the present, 
and all regard for the future. Let but the iron hand of 
poverty assail you, or sickness enter your doors, then 
shall you find that those whom you have for years fed, 
clothed, and cherished, will be the first to turn and sting 
you; all will then unite to benefit themselves by your 
misfortunes; all your faithful lady's soi-t/i^ani relations 
will conspire to plunder you ; and your charmer herself 



MEMOIRS OF JOHN SHIPF. 14& 

tvill soon take an opportunity of wounding you in the ten- 
derest point, by eloping with one of her long-supported 
brothers or cousins, leaving you in your poverty, or on 
the bed of sickness, to drink the bitter draught of re- 
pentance. Should any of your offspring by this heart- 
less woman be boys, they would be left behind to assist in 
soothing your cares, as unsaleable commodities; but, for 
the girls, especially if they should have proved handsome, 
they would be carried off by their mother, for a purpose, 
the mere contemplation of which would, one would sup- 
pose, alone deter men from forming connexions so likely 
to entail misery both on themselves and the wretched 
offspring of their criminal indulgence. 

If I were to relate instances of the misery and wo which 
I have myself known to result from these illicit connexions, 
I could fill a volume in enumerating cases in point which 
have fallen under my own observation ; but my aim is to 
avoid hurting the feelings of any man, and my object of 
cautioning the inexperienced, will be sufficiently answered 
without reflecting on those whom I have known to fall 
victims to this seductive but criminal folly. I beseech 
young men about to proceed to the East Indies, to ponder 
over the picture which I have drawn. Let them be as- . 
sured that I have not sketched it from imagination ; but 
that what I submit to their consideration is the result of 
personal observation, and taken from undeniable facts, 
which I have myself been an eye witness to. If any thing 
can be objected against it, it is, that I have rather said too 
little than too much. 

I have now given many bints, whieh I sincerely hope 
may not be thrown away, to young men proceeding to 
India. I hope I shall not be thought too presumptuous if 
i say a few words to the young ladies proceeding to that 
land of iniquity. 

If you live in India, you may suppose that you must do 
as Indians do. I hope those days are last gliding into 
the shades of dark oblivion, and that Indian mothers have 
learned, from woful experience, that they must become 
English mothers, if they wish to become happy parents. 
Young ladies are but too prone, in this land of luxury and 
idleness, to give way to that languidness which the climate 
13* 



160 MEMOIHS OF JOHN SHIPP. 

promotes, and leave off all their little accomplishments 
playing, singing, drawing, &c., qualifications which tend 
to endear them to their husbands, and render them agree- 
able in society. For these rational amusements are sub- 
stituted sleeping, lounging, inactivity, &c., which, in time, 
bring on an habitual dislike to every personal exertion^ 
and plunge the individual who thus indulges into many of 
those diseases saddled upon the climate. I am of opinion 
that you require as much exercise in that country, if not 
more, than m a colder, to rouse those faculties to actioUj 
which are rendered dormant by the inactivity naturally 
incident to so warm a climate. From the enormous size 
of the houses in India, salutary exercises can be resorted 
to without exposure to the heat of the weather. Be as- 
sured that moderate exercise will be found the best and 
cheapest doctor. The hints I have laid before the young 
men relative to health, apply, equally, to both sexes. 

There are not more abandoned women in the universe 
than the young «iaA.s or nurses of India, except that many 
of them do not drink. It behooves the mistress of a family 
to keep her eye sharply on the affairs of her household, or 
she will soon have to regret the loss of many of her most 
valuable articles, for they never steal anything of petty 
value. The penalty, if detected, is a short imprisonment, 
during which the delinquents receive more money for their 
support than is equivalent to keep them. Therefore, let the 
old adage be your molto, «' Sale bind, safe find." If you 
are careful, they must, by compulsion, be honest : if you 
neglect your own affairs, it is, of course, an inducement 
for them to plunder, and you, by such neglect, become ac- 
cessary to your own ruin. I have known young ladies 
stripped of their whole sea stock before they had been 
in the country three months, by merely intrusting their 
keys to a servant. The manners of many of the aiahs are 
fascinating, and young ladies are apt to exclaim, " What 
a dear creature that aiah is ! what a kind woman !" Be 
assured, these attentions and little endearments are put on 
to impress you with a confidence in their love and honesty, 
and when they think this confidence is fully inspired, and 
that your suspicions are lulled into repose, they imme^ 
diately commence their purloinings. This they will do by 



MEMOIRS OF JOHN SHIPPr 16} 

degrees, first taking things that you do not immediately re- 
quire for daily use. Keep your servants in their proper 
places ; be mistress of your own household affairs ; you 
will then not have the mortification of being robbed, and 
your domestics will be good and honest, not by chance, 
but by necessity. Young ladies are very apt, when they 
have learned a little of the language, to get their female 
servants to tell them tales of the East, which being a tissue 
of love-sick stories, founded on the basis of romance 
and false sentiment, can only serve to corrupt the morals, 
and to encourage the servants to venture upon such hber- 
ties as must end in a disgusting familiarity. Ladies ought 
to be very particular in the selection of female servants, 
for on them depends the peace of all their domestic servants. 
If they are bad, there will be no end of quarreUing and 
fighting among them. If possible, 1 never would take a 
servant without ^a personal reference. Written ones they 
can procure anywhere by giving a Native writer a few pice. 
It is frequently thought a great recommendation that ser- 
vants should have in their power to produce a great num- 
ber of written characters ; in my humble opinion, there 
cannot be a greater proof of a bad servant. 1 would re- 
commend ladies to be particularly careful in examining the 
persons of their female servants. That dreadful disease, 
the itch, is most common ; and few of these women, from 
their slothful and dirty habits, are free from scorbutic af- 
fection. 

I will now presume to say a word to Indian mothers, 
and I trust I shall not offend in so doing. 

Every woman is proud of ])ecoming a mother, both in 
the most splendid palace, and the humblest cot; but how 
shall I designate that mother, Who can, the moment her 
offspring blesses her embrace, thrust it from her as if some 
monster had been born, into the lap of a harlot, to be fast- 
ened at the bosom of impurity, and encircled by the arm of a 
wanton, contaminated, as is frequently the'case, with some 
infectious and dire disease ? Why this estrangement from 
your babe ? Why this unnatural severing of the dearest ties 
of nature ? Mothers, the only answer to these questions is, 
that you part from your sweet babe rather than any trouble 
which it may cause, should add one wrinkle to your ap- 



152 MEMOIRS OF JOim SHIPP. 

pearance, or steal one blossom from your cheek. Thi^ 
is, indeed, a perversion of nature that appals the heart of 
sensibility. The babe is confided to a Native, whose very 
first step proves her unnatural conduct ; she tears from 
her bosom the babe of her own body, and, for mercenary 
motives, gives nourishment unto yours. What can, in 
reason, be expected from such women ? If the child does 
not fall in its infancy, thus it is brought up : it is nursed, 
dressed, and washed, by its Native nurse, in the nursery, 
where some mothers condescend to visit it, if at leisure, 
once a day ; but this nursery must be so remotely situated 
that the crying of the poor babe shall not offend the sensi- 
tive ears of its parents. Here, subject to all the ill treat- 
ment and ill humour of an inhuman and ignorant woman ^ 
the child is neglected, and, too frequently, almost forgotten, 
by the authors of its being. Should this babe, from illness 
or otherwise, be irritable, or cry, there is an infallible re- 
medy to stop its cries — opium — which these wretches will 
administer in large quantities. Within my own knowledge 
two babes have been destroyed by this drug. One of them 
was in the regiment I was in, and in its httle stomach, 
after death, was found more than the eighth part of an 
ounce. The nurse merely urged, in her own vindication, 
that the child was so cross she could not pacify it. These 
aiahs use this pernicious drug freely themselves. The 
other case occurred in Calcutta : the parents had gone to 
a ball, and during the evening, despatched a servant to see 
if the child was quiet ; he returned, and said it was asleep. 
This satisfied them, and the merry dance went on. On 
their return home the babe was still asleep, and they went 
to repose. On the following morning the child was found 
dead, and the opium found in it. The use of this drug, in 
in a slighter degree, is, I am convinced, the cause of many 
a sickly child in India. 

The two cases which 1 have related of children dying 
from the eflfects of opium administered by their hired nur- 
ses, to stop their cries, or, in other words, to save them- 
selves trouble, are instances which fell under my own ob- 
servation. Hundreds of others might be related from in- 
dubitable authority ; and 1 could dwell, longer than would 
be agreeable to me, on innumerable cases of infants being 



MEMOIRS OF JOHN SHIPP. 15S 

tetroyed, or rendered sickly, by the use of this deleterious 
drug ; or, which is little better, being infected with some vile 
disease, communicated by their hireling mothers, and not 
discovered until the contamination has been so confirmed 
in the system as to endanger the child's health for life. 

If, with my unlettered judgment, and in the warmth of 
my feelings against this unnatural practice, and against 
those Englishwomen who become mothers in India and 
encourage it, the above remarks should appear too severe, 
let those mothers take the hints which I have thrown out 
to themselves, and, having dressed them up in a better 
clothing than it is in my power to give them, let them ask 
themselves if there is anything untrue or unreasonable in 
what I have asserted. If a mother can reconcile the prac- 
tice, which I reprobate, to her conscience, I should be glad 
to hear on what ground ; bui if not, and she still continue 
to cast her child from her to the care of a stranger, simply 
because the nursing her own offspring might rob her of 
some portion of her charms, or of her leisure ; if she must 
still look young and fascinating at the expense of her poor 
babe ; and if, by such neglect, her infant perish — let it be 
her reflection how far she may fairly be considered to have 
contributed to its death, and in what terms she will best 
justify herself at the judgment-seat of God, 



CHAPTER XII. 

The reader will probably recollect that he was informed, 
at the end of the tenth chapter of the present volume, 
that, after about three months' sail up the river Ganges, 
we reached Cawnpore in safety. The day before we 
arrived at that place. Colonel Wade sent for me, and 
gave me a strong and handsomeletter of recommendation. 
In thp evening of the next day we marched to tents which 
had been previously pitched for our reception. Here we 
found two officers of our own regiment, ready to receive 



154 MEMOIRS OF JOHN SlilPP. 

US, with one of whom I had often dined when an officer 
in the same camp. He received me kindly, and pro- 
mised me his friendship. Nothing of moment occurred 
during the short time I was at this station. 

Having refitted, we started on route to Meerutt (about 
three hundred miles by land), under the command of two 
officers, whose sole study was to promote our happiness 
and welfare. 1 do not know that 1 ever spent a happier 
time. Our march was always over by nine o'clock, and 
we encamped under the salubrious scent and pleasant 
shade of the lofty mango. After journeying in this plea- 
sant mannerj we reached Meerutt on the 9th day of 
November, 1809, having been eleven months and a day 
from England. Here I was welcomed by all my old 
comrades, and found myself full sergeant in Captain 
Beattie's troop. 

On the evening of our arrival we were inspected by 
the commanding officer, now Major-General Need. I 
was well received by all the officers, and indeed by all 
the corps, save two or three corporals whom I had sup- 
planted in their long-cherished hopes of promotion. This 
naturally placed me in no very enviable situation with 
these men, and several attempts were made to try my 
courage, but I was too well versed with the rank I held to 
permit myself to be imposed on or annoyed. When they 
found this, their ire passed away and their grievances 
were forgotten. After the inspection, my commanding 
officer called me on one side, and said, '' I am much 
grieved to see you in your preserit situation, after the many 
laurels you have gained in India, but I feel pleasure in 
having it in my power to promote you to the rank of 
sergeant, and if you conduct yourself well, be assured I 
shall not lose sight of your further promotion." I was 
obliged once more to go through a regular and systematic 
course of drills, both on horseback and on foot ; but, as 
I was already well acquainted with both, I was soon dis- 
missed. As, however, the reader may not be so well 
versed in these exercises, perhaps he will find it an agree- 
able relaxation to bear me company for 



MEMOIRS OF JOHN SHIPP^ 155 



TWO DAYS IN THE RIDING-SCHOOL. 

The first morning after a young officer has joined bis 
regiment, he finds himself exalted on a spirited steed, 
some sixteen hands high, from whose back he dares not 
cast the eye downward, to take even a glimpse of the 
immense space between him and the earth. His chin is 
so elevated by a leather stock, that he can just see the 
head and ears of the animal on which he sits ; his heels 
are screwed out by the iron fist of the rough-rider ; and 
the small of his back is well bent in. Having been 
knocked and hammered into this posture, the word 
'' march" is given. This command the well-drilled animal 
obeys immediately, and the machine is suddenly set in 
motion, the result of which usually is, that the young 
gentleman speedily finds his way to the ground, with the 
loss of half a yard of skin from his shin, or with his nose 
grubbing in the earth. 

" Well done, sir ; Astley himself could not have done 
better. Mount again, sir ; these things will happen in the 
best regulated riding-academies ; and, in the army, sir, you 
will have many ups and downs. Come, sir, jump up, and 
don't be down-hearted because you are floored." 

" Well, sergeant, but I am very seriously hurt." 

" Nay, nay, I hope not, sir ; but you must be more 
cautious for the future." 

The pupil mounts again, and the order is again given to 
march, and off goes the horse a second time, the sergeant 
roaring out, at intervals, — '-'• Well done, sir ! Head a 
little higher — toes in, sir — heels out — bend the small of 
the back a little more — that will do, sir — you look as 
majestic as the Black Prince in the Tower, or King 
Charles's statue at Charing-Cross. Bravo, sir, — rode 
capitally ! We will now try a little trot. Recollect, sir, 
to keep your nag well in hand, — trot.^^ 

" Well done, indeed, sir — knees a little lower down, if 
you please — that 's higher, sir — no, no, sir, that's higher, 
I say — you look for all the world like a tailor on his shop- 
board. What are your elbows doing up there, sir ? Elbows 



156 MEMOIRS OF JOHN SHIPP. 

close to your body— you pay no attention to what I say. 
sir^— faster^ faster J^ 

"Oh dear! oh dear! oh dear ! Sergeant, halt, for 
Crod's sake I I shall be off ! I shall be off! oh dear, oh 
dear!" 

" Bravo, sir, that's better— faster.''' 

" Sergeant ! I am sick, sergeant !" 

'* Never mind such trifles, sir ; riding is an excellent 
remedy for all kinds of sickness. Now, recollect, in 
changing from one to two, you round the horse's croup 
well, by applying your right leg to his flank, and take 
care he does not kick you of^.— Change from one to 
two:' 

"Halt, sir; halt! that won't do: what the devil are 
you about ? That 's the wrong way ; I told you from one 
to two : turn your horse about from one to two." 

" I can only just see the top of the riding-school — I 
can see no figures at all, sergeant." 

" Well, sir, we '11 dispense with this for the present ; 
but soldiers should learn to turn their eyes every where. 
Suppose we have another march, sir. March — trot — 
faster— faster ; very well, indeed. Now, sir, you must 
recollect, when I say the word halt, that you pull your 
horse smartly up, by throwing your body well back, and 
pressing the calves (if any) of your legs to his side. If 
you don't keep your body upright, the horse's head will 
soon put it in its proper place. Faster — a httle faster — 
halt. There, sir, I told you what would be the conse- 
quence of your not keeping your head properly up !" 

'* Stop, stop ; my nose bleeds, my nose bleeds !" 

" Rough-rider, get a bucket of water for the gemman. 
You had better dismount, sir." 

" Dismount, sergeant? How am I to get off this great 
beast?" 

" Why, jump, sir, to be sure — ^jump off. Come, sir, 
we cannot wait all day ; you delay the whole drill. Come, 
come, sir, dismount !" 

*' Put your hand on the horse's rump, and lay fast hold* 
of his mane," cries a young officer, who had just sur- 
mounted the same difficulties, " and you will soon be off."~ 
,The tyro in riding follows this friendly advice, and finds 



MEMOIRS OF JOHN SHIPPo W^t 

tiimself neatly floored by a tremendous plunge of the 
horse, thus finishing his first day's drill. 

The next morning the pupil attends the riding-school, 
with his nose somewhat embellished by his fall. He 
enters the school with his — " Good morning, sergeant ;" 
for it is always good policy to keep friends with botii 
riding-masters and rough-riders. " Good morning, sir,*' 
says the sergeant ; " I hope you did not hurt yourself 
yesterday." 

" Oh, no— oh, no ! Mere scratch — mere scratch— not 
worth mentioning." 

•' Glad to hear it. sir. We must expect in the army 
both scratches and falls. I have ordered you, for to-day. 
a horse somewhat more spirited, that will jump under you 
like an antelope." 

" Much obliged to you, indeed," says the pupil, making 
a tremendous wry face. 

*'• Oh, don't mention the obligation, sir. It is my duty 
to make a good rider of you, and I flatter myself ^hat 1 
have turned out some of the best riders fi-om this school 
that are to be found in the kingdom, and with as few 
accidents as could reasonably have been expected ; though, 
of course, casualties will sometimes inevitably happen, m 
3, large academy like this. To be sure," continues the 
sergeant, winking at the rest of the party assembled, 
'' there was poor Cornet Shins, who broke his neck, and 
by-the-by, off the very horse you are going to ride today ; 
but that, of course, was no fault of the poor animaFs,. 
Then, there was Lieutenant Stew, who broke his thigh,, 
and a few other trifling circumstances of this kind, which 
make good for the army." 

'' Good for the army ! How do you make that out ?" 

^' Why, sir, it is as plain as the eighteen manceuvres^ 
We will just suppose, for the sake of argument, that your 
neck is broken this mornmg." 

" My good Sergeant, what are you talking about ?" 

'' I am only supposing^ you understand, that your neck 
was broken ; in which case it must be clear to you that 
you would make room for another : but come, sir, we must 
proceed to business ! Prepare to mount — mount — steady 
there— not an eye or muscle to move-r-pray, sir, keep your 

Vol. L— 14 



1 58 MEMOIRS OP JOHN SHJPP, 

liorse steady — put your left leg to him, and put him straigti^ 
—don't touch him in the flank, sir, or he will soon have 
you off — that will do — march — sit still, I beg, sir ; you 
are all on one side, like the lug-sail of a boat — that 's better j 
now, sir, trot— faster — halt. Pray, sir, do be attentive.' * 
" My stirrups are too long." 

*' Rough-rider, take them off, the gentleman will ride 
better without them. Now, sir, off with you again— wiarc/^ 
-—faster- — halt. Why sir, you roll about like a ship in 
distress ; pray keep your seat — march.'^ 
''lam off, I am off!" 
"Not yet, sir." 
" Yes I am, yes I am." » 

" Well, I believe you are now, sir ; at least I never saw 
anything more like it in my life. I hope you are not hurt, 
sir." 

*' No, not much ; but this horse is worse than the 
other." 

" Why, of course, I know that, sir ; you must have a 
averse horse every day. Come, sir, mount again." 
" 1 can't ; you have taken the stirrups off." 
*' Oh, never mind that, sir ; jump up." 
" 1 can't." 

" Try, sir ; there is no remedy. Yonder I see the 
riding-master coming this way." 

The riding-master now comes up, and inquires into the 
progress of all his pupils. 

"• Well, sergeant, how gets on Cornet Waddle?" 
" Very well, indeed, sir ; he has only had two falls in two 
days." 

^' I am glad to hear it. What horse is that he is on ?" 
*' Kicking Billy, sir." 

** Ah ! a good horse to learn on. Heads up. Cornet 
Waddle — -six inches from hand to hand — four inches from 
holster-pipes — that will do — trot. Bless me, Cornet White, 
how your elbows go ; one would imagine you had been 
either a tailor or a fiddler. Do keep them close to your 
sides, sir. We m now try a little canter — canter. Very 
well indeed — change from three to four. Cornet Shanks, 
pray keep those stretching legs of your's quiet, and feel 
the horse's mouth vlightly. Not with that hand, sir, but 



MEMO IKS OF JOHN SHIPP. 151' 

with the bridle. Keep down your 'knQQS— faster — halt. 
What, three of you off! Come, mount again, gentlemen : 
when I was a recruit, I fell fifty times a day, and laughed 
at the fun. Now, hold on — march — trot — gallop. Cor- 
net Waddle, let go the horse's mane ; let go, sir." 

*' I can't, sir ; if I do, I shall be off." 

'* You must go faster, then, till you do—faster— faster : 
well done, indeed — halt. What, off again!" 

Thus concludes the second day's, drill ; after which the 
pupil, having surmounted the minor difficulties of horse- 
manship, is put into a squad of about a dozen recruits, to 
act in a body. 

I had not been in the regiment above one year, when s 
colonel, commanding a corps of the Company's Native 
Cavalry, who had known me before, offered me a riding- 
mastership, a situation equal to an ensigncy. I was elated 
with the idea : it was the situation which, of all others, I 
should have fancied. I dressed myself in my best, and off 
I marched with the colonel's kind invitation in my hand, 
not having the shadow of a doubt of the full and joyous 
concurrence of my commanding officer, who, I thought, 
would gladly embrace the opportunity of giving me a prooi 
of the friendship he had so often professed for me. I pre- 
sented the letter, and begged his consent and aid in the ful 
filment of my wishes. He read it, paused, knitted his dark 
eyebrows, and it was so evident that he was displeasede 
that I began to muster my offences, but I could think 
of nothing in which I had offended hitn. Imagine my sur- 
prise and mortification when he returned the little docu 
ment into my hand, accompanied with this sweet and con- 
soling declaration, " I shall not recommend you for any 
such thing." He was just about to leave the room, wheii 
I presumed to remonstrate on the cruelty of such a denial, 
in preventing me from getting such a respectable situation., 
and I pushed the matter home by asking him if he thought me 
unworthy of it, or if 1 had displeased him in anything. He 
said, ^' No ; but," continued he, " don't you think I like 
good men in my regiment as well as Colonel K ? Be- 
sides," he said, "■ what am I to do for a sergeant-major if 
you leave the regiment, or perhaps for an adjutant, if any° 
thing should happen to either of them ? Two of these per 



ISO MEMOIBS OF JOHN SHIPP. 

sons were younger than myself, and in full and blooming 
health. I felt my pride wounded and my feelings hurt, 
and I could not help expressing my sentiments to that effect, 
and we parted at enmity. This was a death-blow to my 
present hopeso I made the best excuse I could to the colo- 
nel who had made me the kind offer, and I was in a short 
time made drill-corporal in my own regiment, and af- 
terwards drill-sergeant. This was a situation I was fond 
of, and a preparatory step to that of regimental sergeant- 
major. For a time this new toy pleased me, for I would, at 
any time, sooner command than be commanded ; but the 
duties of drill-sergeant are very laborious. There is no 
situation in the army where the patience and temper are 
more tried than in this, in which your life is almost worn 
out, sometimes by stupid and awkward recruits, and at 
others by sulky, stubborn, and petulant old soldiers. Some 
will not do as they are desired, others cannot. Many of 
these fellows will purposely step oft' with the right foot^ 
when you have taken-the greatest pains to explain to them 
that the left is the foot in which all marches are com- 
menced. In file marching, or following one after the 
other, an error of this kind is frequently the cause of a 
most ludicrous scene. If the front, or leading file, step 
off with the right leg, which I have seen some obstinate 
mules do, and all the others move off with the left, it na- 
turally follows that the file immediately behind must, of 
necessity, come upon the heels of those before them, and in 
endeavouring to recover themselves, the change of the step 
goes from front to rear before gravity and order are re- 
stored. On occasions of this kind I have seen five or six. 
files come flat on their faces, and many consider themselves 
fortunate if they come off with a broken shin only. This 
is what they call a larJc^ and hoaxing the drill-sergeant. If 
a man once played me this trick, I always put him in front 
as long as he had a beel or toe to stand upon. 

I went on tolerably well with the troubles and vexations 
of this arduous office, when, one fine morning, it was ru- 
moured through the lines that the sergeant-major was 
defunct in hospital. I was congratulated from all quarters 
as his successor, as a matter of course, and the eye of the 
whole regiment was upon the drill-sergeant. 1 expected 



MEMOIES OF JOilK SIliVF. 161 

a summons every moment from the commanding officer 
So sanguine was I myself, that I had directed that all my 
"' traps" might be put in moveable order ; when, lo ! ano- 
ther sergeant was appointed sergeant-major, leaving poor 
me the butt and jeer of the whole corps. I could not 
imagine what could possibly be the cause of this strange- 
appointment. I say strange, for two reasons : first, that 
the situation had been promised to me ; and, secondly, 
that the sergeant who was appointed was, of all others, 
the most unfit for it. I felt hurt beyond description, bu< 
my spirit was too proud to permit me to ask why I had 
been thus passed over. I bore it as patiently as I couldj 
still trying to kill care by fagging at the drills ; and no 
doubt some of the poor fellows under me felt the weight 
of my disappointed hopes, for I had them out late and 
early. I mentioned, however, the circumstance to my cap- 
tain, and told him I would resign both my drill-sergeant- 
ship and also my three other stripes ; but the captain, hav- 
ing more prudence and temper than his sergeant, advised 
me to put up with it, saying, that he had no doubt the co- 
lonel had something better in store forme. This supposi- 
tion appeased my troubled mind, and I endeavoured to 
smother my grief by making myself a better drill ; and in 
a short time the storm had blown over, and the event was 
nearly obliterated from my memory. After this affair I 
always avoided the colonel, and whenever chance threw 
me in his way, T gave him the customary salute due to his 
rank, but accompanied with a few dark looks, as tokens oi 
my gratitude. 

Thus I went on, chewing the cud of disappointment, 
when one morning I happened to be straying down a nar- 
row lane, brooding over my misfortunes, and trying to 
assign some reason why my commanding officer had 
passed me over in promotion, when, in turning a corner, 
I almost came in contact with the object of my medita- 
tions, who could soon have put my mind at peace — the 
colonel himself I tendered him a most formal salute, 
almost as stiff as my feelings were towards him ; this 
dumb greeting being garnished with one of my blackest 
looks, i was passing on, with one eye looking over my 
shoulder, and at last I turned mv whole bodv round to 
14^ 



iG2 MEMOIRS OF JOHN SIIIPP. 

have a good stare at hira ; when, to my surprise, as if he 
had anticipated my thoughts, I found that he also had 
countermarched. We were now face to face, and retreat 
would have been unsoldier-like ; so I commenced the 
attack, by approaching the spot where he stood, as if I 
was returning home to my barracks. When passing him, 
I of course gave him another salute, somewhat smoother 
than the former. For this amendment in my behaviour, I 
was in hopes he would speak to me as I passed, for I was 
ripe with a speech as long as my sabre, which I had beeii 
some time cementing together. I had hardly gone past, 
when he said, " Halloa, Shipp, — come here." I ap- 
proached him, and, after giving him a more conciliatory 
salute than usual, was just about to open my battery upon 
Mm, when he commenced a hedge-fire, by saying, in a 
kind and friendly manner, — " Well, Shipp, how do you 
get on ?" -Here was a pretty preface to my intended 
speech ! I stood at attention, knowing the respect due to 
my commanding ofHcer, and replied, "• I get on but badly, 
sir." "- How is that ?" said the Colonel. I said, " I had but 
little encouragement to get on well, since he was pleased 
to pass me over in promotion."—'' Why, then," said 
he, '•' did you not come and ask me for it ?" Here my spirit 
nettled : I told him, no doubt impetuously, that, if he did 
not think me worthy of it unsolicited, I should never ask. 
it of him. By this I struck the chord of his displeasure, 
and he replied, " Tj-ien you will never get it." I tipped 
him another salute, rather bordering on impudence, and 
was in the act of facing to the right-about, and for this 
purpose had drawn my right foot back to my left heel, 
when he turned his displeasure into kindness, and said, 
^' Stop, sergeant ; suppose I have something better for 
you than what I have taken from you, and which you did 
not think worth soliciting." He said this with an inquir- 
ing eye, and 1 replied, that my prospects in life depended 
entirely upon his friendship towards me. If he withheld 
that, I had nothing further to hope. He answered, " My 
good-will and friendship you have ; but must divest your- 
self of that impetuosity of temper, and depend upon it 1 
shall not lose sight of your welfare : go home, and keep 
yourself quiet." Thus we parted. I wanted a balm of 



MEMOIRS OF JOHN SUIPP. 16S 

this kind to soothe and calm me : for, what with my dis 
appointment^ and the trouble 1 had with obstinate young 
soldiers and drunken old ones, my patience and temper 
were really worn threadbare, and, from constant bellowing 
at the drills, my voice had become as gruffly sonorous sm 
a bad church organ. But, in all my distresses, I never 
lost sight of my duties and respect to my superiors, 
knowing that any neglect on my part v/ould lose me every 
thing. I was on good terms witli every officer and man in 
the regiment, and made it my study to be the first on parade, 
and the last off. I had risen through the several grada- 
tions of lance-corporal to full, — lance-sergeant to full,— 
drill-corporal, — drill-sergeant, pay-sergeant, — and troop- 
sergeant-major, — without being once confined, or on any 
occasion reprimanded by a superior officer. 

In the year 1813, another sergeant-major made a retro- 
grade movement, and tumbled into his grave ; but I still 
could not make up my mind to sohcit the appointment of 
my commanding officer, although I saw several other ser- 
geants running down to ask for it. Notwithstanding this, 
I kept at home, where I dressed, expecting every moment 
to receive a summons from the colonel, who, I thought, 
surely would not again pass me over. Here I waited, 
looking every now and then out of my barrack-room win- 
dow, but neither messenger nor orders arrived. I began 
to think it had been given away a second time, and a dread- 
ful struggle ensued between pride and interest ; the former 
said, " Don't go ;" the latter, '*• Go, or you get nothing." 
After a long contest, pride succeeded, and I remained 
where [ was. At evening-drill, I was early at my post. 
and was going through my regular course of evolutions, 
when the adjutant rode up to me, and said, ''• Why don 't 
you go and ask the commanding officer to give you the 
vacancy ?" I replied, " Sir, I should deem, myself un- 
worthy of such a situation, did ! beg or cringe for it. If 
my commanding officer deemed me deserving of such an 
appointment, he would give it me without hesitation ; and 
should he be so kind, he may rely upon my strictly per- 
forming the duties intrusted to me, and thus proving my 
gratitude; but ask it I never can." After this fine 
speech, I went on with my drill ; when the adjutant, after 



164 MEMOms OP JOHN SHIPP. 

pausing a few seconds, said, " Well, if you are too proud 
to ask for it, I am not," and off he galloped. In a quarter 
of an hour he returned, and said, '' You are appointed 
sergeant-major." I thanked him most cordially, and 
assured him he should never have cause to regret his kind- 
ness. He replied, " Shipp, to be candid with you, I 
admire your proper spirit in not begging the situation, noi' 
does your commanding officer think the worse of you for 
it : you will immediately move into the sergeant-major's 
bungalow, and assume the duties of that office. I need 
not, I am sure, inform you what they are." On the fol- 
lowing morning I moved into my new house, and published 
my own appointment. Here all the cares and anxieties of 
my past life were forgotten. The very idea of having the 
whole regiment under my special command at drill, was 
to me inexpressibly delightful, and I looked forward to 
the day as the consummation of my military glory. 

As a groundwork for proceeding properly in my new 
office, 1 established an inseparable vacuum between my 
rank and that of the other non-commissioned officers, 
treating them with every respect consistent with theirs, 
and, in time, making them sensible that such a difference 
must be established between their station and that of the 
privates under their command. I enforced prompt obedi» 
ence and attention from them, and they from those under 
them. This they at first construed into pride on my part ; 
but, in time, that prejudice wore off, and they obeyed 
with pleasure. Those who proved refractory were re- 
moved from their situations, and those more obedient 
promoted in their stead. Thus things went on smoothly 
and pleasantly ; and, in two or three months, I could trust 
them in the discharge of their duties with confidence, and 
they soon learned how far they could go with me. [ had 
a strict and vigilant adjutant ; he made a strict and vigi- 
lant sergeant-major ; he made good non-commissioned 
officers ; and they good private soldiers. Thus, disci- 
pline and good-will towards each other went hand in hand 
together. My situation was a respectable one, and, what 
was equally pleasant, a lucrative one, I had as many 
titles as any peer in the kingdom :— 



SIEHOIRS OF JOHN SIIIPP. 165 

J. Sbipp, R, S. M. — Regimental Sergeant Major. 

J. Shipp, G. K. — Jail-Keeper. 

J. Shipp, U. T. — Undertaker. 

J. Shipp. L. M. — Log-Maker. 

The perquisites of all these situations brought m^ pay 
to a handsome amount ; I was respected by the officers, 
and loved by the men ; and I had scarcely a wish ungra- 
tified. The year round I always found the same people^ 
with but little variation, in the congee-house ; and one man, 
a fine young fellow, was never off my jail-book. The 
moment he was released he was assuredly in the guard- 
room again, and from thence to his old place of abode. I 
once asked him how he could, month after month, prefer 
that solitary and secluded life to that of liberty. He 
replied, — '* Habit is second nature," for there, he said, 
" he could, alone and undisturbed, brood over his sad and 
hitherto melanciioly career." He concluded in a most 
pathetic manner, '• Sergeant-major, I have never done any 
good since the time your predecessor got me flogged. I 
assure you, I endeavour with all my energy to forget it, but 
I cannot ; it crushes me to the ground, and that day's dis- 
grace has been my ruin. I am of a good family, but I never 
can or will return to disgrace those dear parents with a 
scarified back." Some three months alter this, he died^ 
in a sad state of inebriety. 

One day I was going my usual round with the orderly- 
officer, who twice a day visited the congee-house. This 
officer was a famous one for scenting anything *, he could 
smell a cigar a mile off. In going round the yard, which 
is enclosed by a stupendous high wall, he discovered a 
large beef-bone recently dropped. The sergeant was 
called to account for this ominous appearance. This ser- 
geant was a shrewd fellow, and he immediately said,— 
" Oh, sir, the pelicans have dropped it." This was very 
plausible, for these birds will carry enormous bones ; and 
frequently, when fighting for them, they drop them, so 
that this might very probably have been the case. The 
moment the dinner-trumpet sounds, whole flocks of these 
birds are in attendance at the barrack doors, waiting for 
bones, or anything that the soldiers may be pleased to 
throw to them. The men were in the habit of playing 
them many mischievous tricks ; but, notwithstanding this, 



166 MEMOIRS OF JOHN SHIPP. 

at the well-known sound of the dinner-trumpet they were 
regularly at their station. Some of the more mischievous 
bovs would tie two large bones together, and throw them. 
These would be swallowed with the greatest avidity by 
two of those poor hungry mendicants, v/ho, in genera!, 
would both soar above the barrack-tops witli their prey, 
pulling and hauling against each other, and attended by 
a hundred crows and kites, pecking them on the head 
most unmercifully. Sometimes they would throw out a 
single bone, a pretty large one, with a string and small 
kite at the end of it, or a large piece of rag. One of the 
pelicans having swallowed the bone, he would fly aloft, 
with the string and kite hanging out of his mouth, and 
with hundreds of his own tribe after him, in hopes he 
might throw up the bone again, which these birds can do 
with the greatest facihty. Thus ascending, they are lost 
sight of amidst the clouds ; but the same gentleman 
would frequently be in attendance the following day at 
dinner-hour, with a portion of the string hanging lo himi. 
We had not gone much further on our round, when the 
officer scented a bundle of cigars, which he picked up and 
archly said,—'* Sergeant, what luxurious dogs these peli- 
cans must be ! I iiave already seen beef, mutton, and 
pork bones, and here I find a bundle of cigars. 1 should 
not be surprised if I stumbled upon a bottle of brandy 
next." This the artful sergeant did not know how to ac- 
count for ; but the thing was obvious enough : the whole 
had been thrown over for the prisoners, by some of their 
friends. The sergeant was severely admonished for his 
neglect of duty, and a long conversation then took place 
between me and the orderly officer, on the subject of these 
wonderful birds. They grow so tame that they will feed 
out of your hand. At night, they roost on the tops of 
the barracks, and entrees in their vicinity. In the morn 
ing early, they pay their respects to the river-side in 
search of any dead bodies that may be washed ashore ; 
and it is a most appalling sight to see those ravenous crea- 
tures, with hundreds of enormous vultures, tearing human 
bodies to pieces. If you live on the banks of the Ganges, 
it is no uncommon sight to see crows, vultures, and 
liawks, riding down the river on dead bodies, feeding or? 



MEMOIRS OF JOHN SHIPP. 167 

Ihem as they sail along. This is easily accounted for, 
Hindoos, in general, are committed to the pile after death, 
and burned to ashes ; but the poor people, who cannot 
perform this last office to their departed relatives, burn 
the hair off the body, which is then committed to the Holy 
Gunga, as they call the Ganges. The bodies, when ex- 
posed to the sun, swell to an enormous and frightful size, 
A poor woman, a servant of mine, at Benares, went to 
bathe in the twihght, and she thought she discovered a 
stone projecting out of the water. On this she laid her 
clothes ; and, having bathed, she then sat down upon this 
supposed stone, which, in reality, was a dead body. My 
servants were aroused by her screams, and immediately 
flew to her assistance. They found her lying in the water 
almost drowned, in a fainting fit. She survived this shock 
but a short period, and was soon after committed to the 
watery element. 

One day, I was walking on the banks of the Ganges, 
when 1 saw a group of people sitting together, and mum- 
bling something to themselves. Near them, I saw a 
corpse, wrapped in a white sheet, with its feet covered 
with water. A few moments after, a young man, 1 should 
think about twenty years of age, shouldered the corpse, 
and, walking slowly to an elevated bank, he hurled it into 
the river, in the same manner you would a log of wood. 
He then plunged in after the body, and deprived it of the 
winding-sheet, leaving the corpse to float down the tide 
in a state of nudity. When the youth reached the shore. 
I asked him who the young person was that he had thrown 
into the river. He replied, with a kind of grin, — '' My 
wife." I said, '' You don't seem to be very sorry about 
her." He said, " No : it was God's pleasure." i asked 
him how old she was, and he said, " Thirteen years old." 
I then inquired if he had any family. He replied,—'' Not 
now ; she had one, a little girl, but that the Gunga had 
got the day before." I then asked him how long his wife 
had been dead, when he informed me that she died the 
moment before 1 came up. The father and mother of 
the unfortunate girl were both there, but seemed as indif- 
ferent as the rock on which they had perched themselves 
to watch her progress down th§ rippling stream,— the cold 
grave of million&. 



168 MEMOIKS OF JOIIK SHirP. 



CHAPTER XIII. 



Having now a respectable home, and an easy income? 
I began to look around* me for a wife, to share my fortune, 
and to drink with me of the salubrious cup of content- 
ment. I had been for some time intimately acquainted 
with a most respectable family, the father of which was 
a conductor to the commissariat department. He had 
three daughters, whom he took great pains to bring up 
in a respectable manner, and they all did credit to his 
fatherly care, and lived together with great affection and 
domestic comfort. To the eldest of these I became most 
sincerely attached. I asked her hand in marriage, and it 
was granted ; but the father stipulated, that, in considera- 
tion of his daughter's tender years, the marriage was not 
to take place for the space of two years. In the mean- 
time, every preparation was to be made for our mutual 
happiness. 

Thus things went on till the latter end of the year 1815, 
when my good friend the colonel was promoted to the 
rank of major-general, and consequently bade farewell to 
his old corps the !£4th Dragoons, in which he was respect- 
ed and loved. Scarcely had he departed, when I drew 
up a short memorial to the Marquis of Hastmgs, then 
Governor-General of India, and my new commanding 
officer, Lieutenant-Colonel Philpot, immediately de- 
spatched it to head-quarters, Calcutta, accompanied with 
a handsome recommendatory letter from himself. When 
I presented this memorial to my commanding officer, he 
replied, " Shipp, I am glad you have done so. I was 
yesterday speaking to your friend. Major Covell, about 
you. I will forward it with pleasure, and I hope it may 
succeed." Some twenty days after this, I was sent for 
in a great hurry to the riding-school, where the colonel 
was looking at some young stud^ horses. I immediately 
attended the summons. He was standing with his back. 
towards the riding-school door when i entered, so I waited 



MEMOIRS OF JOHN SHIPr. IQV 

at some distance, when the adjutant said, " Here is the 
sergeant-fnajor." The colonel immediately came up to 
me, seize J ny left arm with the hand of his right, and 
thus led me out of the school. No sooner were we out 
of sight than he pulled out a letter, and I shall never 
forget his delight when he grasped my hand, and said, 
" Shipp, I sincerely congratulate you on yom\ appoint- 
ment. The !V'larqais of Hastings has been pleased to 
meet both your and my wishes ; you are appointed to a.n 
ensigncy in his Majesty's 87th Regiment, and directed to 
join that corps immndiately : but this 3=ou must promise 
me, to keep the affiir secret until to-morrow, or I shall 
be teased out of my life for your appointment. I would 
ask you to dine with me to-day, but for this ivish to keep 
it a secret. I shall, therefore, have-hat pleasure another 
time," (expressed my most sincer " thanks ; the colonel 
put the letter into my Iiand ; he went to his horses again ^ 
and I went to evening parade. 

In the evening, after my duty was done, I went dowo 
to see my intended, and to tell her and her family of my 
good fortune. On my walk hither I had a most strange 
feeling ; it was not that of elation of spirits, but rather oi 
a dreary and gloomy turn. In this mood I reached the 
abode of my bille wife, before I was aware of my near 
approach, and had almost stumbled upon her good father 
before I perceived him Indeed, I should have passed 
him but for his usual salutation, '' A.h, John, is that you ? 
how are yoii ?" This address roused me from my reverie, 
and I replied with affected dignity, '^ Gome, sir, be a little 
more respectful to your superior officer, or 1 shall send 
you to the congee-house." Here i could not help low- 
ering the ensign's mighty dignity, by burstmg into a loud 
laugh. The oid gentleman did not seem to know what 
to make of it ; but l suppose he thought me tipsy, for at 
last he said, ^' What 's the matter, John ? you seem a 
little out of sorts this evening." I then took his arm ; we 
walked together towards the house ; and on the way I told 
him the whole affair. He replied, '' Then of course that 
will break off the match with my poor Ann i you will now 
look higher." At this the ensign's blood rose and he got 
nettled, and warmly replied, " You have mistaken your 

Vol. L— 15 



70 MEMOIKS OF JOHN Slliri'. 

man, sir. I could never, after winning the affections of 
any woman, forsake or desert lier. No : it was with ten- 
fold pleasure I came down to assure her of my unalterable 
affection."' Here my friend gave me his honest hand, 
and I have no doubt, his heart with it ; and thus, hand in 
hand, we entered where all the family were seated round 
a table at work, their usual evening's employment. 

On entering the room, the father, addressing himself 
to the domestic circle assembled, said, in a jocular man- 
ner, " Mrs. 11. and children, permit me to introduce to 
your acquaintance Ensign John Shipp, Esquire, of the 
Horse Marines— -1 mean his Majesty's own Irish Regiment 
of Foot." I made a bow worthy of his Majesty's com- 
mission and of the corps to which I was appointed ; but 
this profound obeisance only set the young ones tittering, 
and one of them, the youngest, had the impudence to 
point the finger of derision at me, saying, "• He an ensign ! 
so is my cat," which cat she immediately paraded on tlic 
table on his two hinder extremities, calling him ^' Ensign 
f^hipp" After this, I seated myself close to my httle 
Intended, and whispered the whole truth into her ear ; 
|jut, instead of evincing the joy which I expected, she 
turned i)alo and gloomy. I inquired the cause. She 
was humble as she was good, aud she replied, " I am 
sorry for it ; for I suppose you wili not condescend to 
look upon a poor conductor's daughter." Here the 
ensign's ire was again roused to a pitch far beyond that 
of a sergeant-major, and I said, ••' What the devil ([ could 
not help the warm expression,) do you all take me for ? 
man or beast? No, Ann ; have a better opinion of me." 
I then extended my hand towards her, and pledged the 
honour of an ensign that it was hers, and hers only. She 
seized my hand and bathed it with her tears. I then 
directed the conversation into a new channel, by turning 
'my indignation on the little one who had metamorphosed 
the cat into an ensign ; but, as 1 bethought myself that I 
really had seen less sagacious animals bearing that com- 
mission, 1 kissed her for her impudence, and forgave her. 

The following day I had my hair cut a la ensign, and 
ordered a new suit of regimentals ; and the third day I 
dined at the mess of my old corps, to which I had a 



MEMOIRS OF JOHN SlllPr. 171 

general invitation during the time I remained at the station, 
I received the most marked kindness from the regiment, 
on my promotion. Invitation tbllowed upon invitation, 
so that it took up near'y the whole of the ensign's time 
to. make and write excuses ; the ot^cers vied with each 
other in politeness and liberality; and I shall ever re- 
member the generosity %f the late 24th Regiment with 
feelings of gratitude. 

Having arranged my affairs, I left Cawnpore for Dina- 
pore, on the 1st day of January, 1815, having first con- 
certed every thing for my marriage as soon as I should 
be settled with my regiment. I reached the station where 
my corps was quartered in five days, a distance of four 
hundred miles. 

. On the morning of the 5th day I landed, for the purpose 
of reporting my arrival to my commanding officer. After 
wandering about the station a considerable time, without 
seeing a single European soldier, at last I met a woman, 
and I asked her if she would have the*goodness to inform 
me where I could find the commanding officer of the 
87th Regiment. I found by her manners, (I mean ill 
manners,) that she had early paid her devoirs to the shrine 
of rum. I repeated, " Will you, my good woman, have 
the goodness to inform me where I can find the 87th 
RegTment ?" 

'' What, the old Fogs !" said she. 

'• Fogs I" said T, '^ no :, the 87th Regiment, I mean." 

'*' fs it making fun of me you are ?" 

T replied, '■'' No, my good woman : I really want to find 
where the o7lh Regiment is." 

'' Sure they are just after laving this place, becase they 
are gone away these three big days." 

'• Gone 1" I repeated — '' where ?" 

•• Fait, to fight against Paul." 

'' Paul I" said I — *' who the devil is he ?" 

•"• Arrah ! bad luck to you, is it after mocking Judy 
Flanag'an you are, you tafe ?" I again assured the woman 
that I was in earnest, (for she had put herself in a boxing 
attitude,) and informed her that I was an officer of that 
corp?. IleFG she burst into a loud horse-laugh, slapping 



172 - 3IEM0IES or JOHN SHIPP. 

her legs with both her hands, " You an officer of the old 
Fogs ! ha, ha, ha 1 Arrah, none of your blarney, honey.'' 

" However you may laujjh," said I, '^ I am an officer 
of the old Foijs, as you call them, and I am come to join 
them." 

'' Then," replied she, '' you might have saved yourself 
the trouble, joy ; for the dive! a one is here, except the 
quarter- master, and I could not find him this morning; 
but does your honosur really belong to the old Fogabo- 
loughs ?" I pledged the honour of an ensign, upon which 
she stretched forth her brawny paw, and grasped my 
hand, saying, "Give us your daddle, your honour ; sure. 
1 am always glad to see any of the old corps here." She 
gave me positive proof of her attachment to the regiment 
by nearly squeezing my hand off, snd she was about to 
confirm the whole with a kiss, but 1 parried her in this 
kind intention She then entered on an eulogium of the 
regiment : '■' The divei a better corps within a whole day's 
march. The regiment is a credit tg your honour. Och ! 
thase are the boys for fighting!" Here she pulled up 
her petticoats nearly to her knees, and conimenced caper- 
ing and humming a tune. 1 could not help laughing, for 
she footed it with the skill of a dancing-rnaster. When 
she had pretty nearly winded herself, she again seized my 
hand, and asked me for something ^' to drink his honour's 
health, and success to the old Fogs." I told her that, if 
she could inform me if there was any person belonging to 
the regiment at the station, 1 might be inclined to give 
iser something to drink. 

'' Thank your honour," said she ; " sure, the adjutant, 
and one Captain Bell, are left behind." 

"• The adjutant here ?" answered J., — " what, sick or 
on duty ?" 

'' Neither, your honour : he is confined as snug as a 
bug to his own room, and is a prisoner besides. Sure, 
there has been a mighty blusteration and hubbub between 
him and the sam.e captain Bell." 

I inquired what had been the matter, 

" Matter, your honour ?— -matter enough: there has 
been bloody murder betwixt them ; and sure there is no 
end to the murders in this remment,'- 



MEMOIRS OF JOHN SHirp. 173 

'' What, have they been fighting ?" said f, meaning a 
duel. 

'^ Fighting ?~sure enough." 

" Is the captain also a prisoner ?" 

"Snug enough, joy." 

" Will you be kind enough to show me v. here the adju- 
tant's quarters are ?" 

" To be sure, honey : he lives just over against the 
corner house, just over by the other side of the chapel, 
and forenent the main guard-room ; sure any body will 
inform ycu that knovis." 

" I fear I shall never find it, with all these leading 
points," said I ; *' give me some, place near it." 

'^ Well, your honour, do you see yonder woman stand- 
ing all alone, with a man fpaking to her ? Or can you 
see the house rour d the corner ?" 

Finding now, from the information prcflered by this 
lady, that the more explanatory she attempted to be, the 
more unintelligible she became, I cut the matter short by 
giving her a rupee, and I took my leave of this ardent 
admirer of the old Fogs with her parting benediction-^ 
*•' God bless your honour ; may your honour never die till 
the side of an old house fall on you and kill you." 

Having parted from this pretty specimen of m.y new 
regiment, I inquired for. the adjutant's quarters, which 
were pointed out to me. At the door I met a soldier, of 
whom I inquired if the adjutant was at home, and wa^ 
informed he had just gone out. I said I would wait till 
he returned ; so I seated myself, and in about five minutes 
after he came in ; and, when I informed him v^ho I was, 
he gave mc a hearty welcome, invited me to breakfast, 
and I remained with him the two days 1 stopped at the 
station. From this officer I learned, that the regiment 
had left two days before, against the Nepaulese. This 
was a piece of news that delighted me much, althcugh 1 
had not a single thing prepared for such a campaign, nor 
was it probable I could procure what was necessary, aftc"!- 
the whole country had been drained of cattle, &c. to 
supply the army. But, notwithstanding this, in two days 
I was ready, so far as carriage ; but, as I could not, by 
any possibility, get a tent, I was obligee] to. mjinufactuFC 
15* 



174 MEMOIRS 0¥ JOHN SHIPi'. 

one, something like what our gipsies use, out of a sette 
renge, or Indian cotton carpet. 

Thus provided, I commenced my march to join the old 
Fogs, who had preceded me five marches. The first day 
I accomplished a distance equal to the regiment's first 
two days' marches. The next day I completed two more, 
and was handsomely treated by an indigo-planter, in the 
district of Tirhoot, where their hberality is noted. I sent 
on my things, the next morning, twenty miles, and desired 
that they might be conveyed twenty more, should I not 
reach them that night. I spent the day with my liberal 
host, the planter ; slept there, and, after eating a hearty 
breakfast, started the next morning on horseback, my kind 
entertainer having laid horses for me on the road. I over- 
took my things about two miles from their destination, and 
put up at another indigo-planter's. Here I met a young 
officer, who was also on his way to rejoin the same divi- 
sion, and, as.it proved after a little conversation, the same 
regiment. He was very young, and seemed delicate : 
and, I thought, but little calculated for such an arduous 
campaign as the one in prospect. Here we regaled our- 
selves till next morning, when we thanked our host for his 
liberality, and bade him farewell. This was the last indi- 
go factory on our road, and travelling without protection 
was attended with some little danger, the lowlanders being 
proverbial for murders and robberies. We were, there- 
fore, now obhged to proceed with caution. In the day- 
time we remamed in our tents, and at night slept in some 
hut or temple. Neither tents nor mud walls were any 
safeguard against the desperate thieves in these districts ; 
besides, these lowlands abounded with tigers, bears, hyae- 
nas, wolves, jackalls, &c. ; and, as these had not been 
much accustomed to the sight of Europeans, we could not 
tell how far they might be induced to go for such unusual 
delicacies ; so safety was the parole. 

The first march I taught my young companion the art 
of becoming his own butcher, cook^ &c. ; for I killed, 
skinned, washed, cooked, and eat, a fine young kid, of 
part of which I made a curry, and grilled the remainder ; 
of this my young friend partook, with most excellent ap- 
petite. After tea, we moved into a village for the night : 



i 



MEMOIRS OF JOHiT SHIPP. 17^ 

ibr some suspicious fellows had already been seen loiter 
ing about. When thus travelling, I would recommend 
people to show their fire-arms, and, in the dusk of the 
evening, to fire them oflT. The dacoits^ or low thieves, in 
India, although a most desperate set, have the greatest 
dread of fire-arms, and will seldom approach those whom 
they know to possess ihem, however ill-disposed they might 
be under other circumstances. Thus, I have often, on 
the rivers Hoogley and Ganges, when coming home at 
night in a lone boat, escaped being robbed, and, perhaps, 
murdered, by frequently discharging my fire-arms, while 
others, who have neglected this precciution, or perhaps not 
had fire-arms with them, have been plundered, and, in 
many instances, murdered, in spite-of the police kept on 
those rivers, 

The regiment was now only twenty miles ahead of us. 
We therefore retired early to rest, intending to reach the 
corps the following day. We had not reposed more than 
an hour, lying upon our things, when I was awoke by a 
noise, something like the crowing of the domestic cock, 
and then like the barking of a dog. i had been too long 
in the country not to know that these crowings and bark- 
ings were sure indications of robbers being on tlie look- 
out. I therefore seized my pistol, resolving to have a shot, 
at whatever first made its appearance. For a time a!! 
was still. There were two doorways to the hut in which 
we had sheltered ourselves ; and, across each of these 
doorways, lay myself and my young friend, i was wide 
awake, and he was dozing, when, all of a sudden, he 
jumped up, and bellowed out, so that his voice re-echoed 
again, — '' Who is that ?" i jumped up and said, — "■'• What 's 
the matter ?" He answered, — ^"^ Some person's hand 
touched my face.'"^ I replied, — " You must have been 
dreaming." He said he was confident that what he 
said was true.— " Well, then, if it is, don't be afraid," 
said I. This nettled the young soldier, and he replied,— 
•' No, sir ; I am not so easily frightened as you may ima- 
gine." I thought at one time he was going to give me 
proof of his valour, by coming to an open rupture with 
me ; but, at last, we both lay down to repose again, I 
thinking to myself, — '-'• I shall try your courage by and by. 



176 MEMOIRS OF JOHN siiirr. 

my lad. ' I pretended to be asleep, and soon heard the 
thieves on the move again. I therefore stole silently from 
my bed, and discharged both my pistols in the air, bellow- 
ing out, vi'ith the lungs of an ensign, — Choor! choor! 
choor ! which my companion perfectly understood to be, 
thieves 1 thieves ! thieves ! Hearing this, he made a des- 
perate jump over my bed, and was out with me in a 
moment ; but he afterward confessed that he was most 
dreadfully alarmed. V¥e retired to rest once more, but 
had not lain long, before I felt a hand cross my face. 1 
immediately seized the fellow, but he was so oiled that he 
slipped through my hands like an eel, and was out of sight 
in a moment. I ran out after him, but he was gone like a 
whisper on the breeze. At this juncture I heard my com- 
panion crying out, — '^ Where are you, sir ? Where are 
you, Mr. Shipp ? Don't leave me." When I returned, 
I found him in a dreadful state of alarm, and, I must con- 
fess, I did not myself half like it. These nocturnal rob- 
bers go perfectly naked, v/itb their heads shaved, and oiled 
from head to foot. They seemed bent upon robbing us, 
for it was strange that they should have returned after L 
had fired. However, I reloaded my pistols, and I said, — ■ 
''- Now, sir, I thiiik we may repose till the morning."— 
'' Repose, sir !" he replied; "I don't think 1 shall sleep 
again for a week." — '^ Nonsense !" said I ; *' we soldiers 
must not mind these little skirmishes. Such things as 
these happen every day, and we laugh at them. If we 
had nothing more to disturb our peace than these little 
annoyances, soldiering would he a delightful life indeed. 
The grand thing is to keep a good watch, so as not to be 
taken by surprise. Have you ever heard of the dreadful 
massacre at Summanpore and Persnh ?" He replied, — 
'-' No, sir ; how did that happen ?" Upon this, I told him, 
that, as I did not myself intend to lie down again, I would, 
if agreeable, relate the particulars of that catastrophe, 
which would serve to keep us awake till morning. 

Major-General Wood, of the Company's army, detach- 
ed ten companies from the troops under his command ; 
Hve to a place called Summanpore, and five to Persab, 
two desolate and deserted villages, some few miles from 
the esitensive forests of the Kepaul territory, — forests 



MEMOIRS OF JOHN SHIPP. 177 

,whicli, even to look at, strike the beholder with awe. In 
the recesses of these dreary woods, dwelt every beast 
that is unfriendly to man, and, behind them, if not in am- 
bush within their range, lay an insidious and savage ene- 
my, inured to war, noted for stratagems lUid craft, and 
who loathed the sight of a white soldier. 

The position taken up by these detachments was very 
judiciously chosen, and was by nature a strong and tenable 
post against the most formidable foe, being surrounded by 
a deep ditch, with high and abrupt banks. Only one 
narrow road ran through this place, over wJiich a tempo- 
rary bridge, made of boughs and mud, was thrown Across 
this only inlet, in the rear of the encampment, was a gra- 
dually rising ground, on which the detachments wisely 
posted two six-pounders, with the artillery and a strong- 
piquet. These parties were, of course, thus placed for 
the purpose of watching the enemy, in order that the de- 
tachments might not be surprised ; and the two entrances 
to this post of honour should have been watched with the 
eye of an Argus. 

Thus situated, the detachments were peraiitted to re- 
main in peace and unmolested, for a considerable time. 
This apparent disregard, on the part of the crafty Ne- 
paulese, of so hated a foe, who^ they must have known, 
were lingering on the frontiers of their country, and watch- 
ing their every movement, would have created, in some 
breasts, a suspicion that some more malignant and subtle 
plan was in preparation than at first appeared, and that 
the opportunity was only wanting to put it in-execution. 
Unfortunately, however, the detachments entertained no 
such apprehensions, but attributed this neglect and appa- 
rent indifference of the enemy to their fear of attacking 
them in their strong hold, and to their resolution not to 
venture from their hiding-places. This delusive conclu- 
sion lulled them into the most distressing apathy, arising 
from the notion entertained by them of their perfect secu- 
rity : they abated in their usual vigilance, and the neces- 
sary watchfulness was neglected, — so important in all 
situations, but more especially on outposts and piquets,— 
situations of high trust and honour, on the strict peiform- 
ance of the duties of which the lives of thousands frequently 
depend. 



17^ MEMOIRS OF JOHN SHIPP. 

The life of almost every man composing the ten eoni' 
panics of which I speak, fell a sacrifice to the fancied 
security in which they reposed. Both detachments were 
surprised and cut to pieces before they could even fly to 
their arms ; and, out of about eight liundred men, not 
above fifty escaped. The attack on the part of the enemy 
was so judiciously planned, that their grand object was to 
cut oifour troops from their firelocks, and their plan was 
so well executed, that they succeeded for a consider- 
able time in so doing. The carnage that endued was 
dreadful. The attacking party, on a dark night, has a 
decided advantage oyer the party attacked, and pre-emi- 
nently so, of course, if the latter are taken by surprise. 
The confusion and disorder on these occasions is awtully 
terrific and appalling ; the consternation is beyond the 
power of words to describe ; and the massacre is, in 
general, enormous. The first panic puts the whole mass 
in motion ; some running one w-ay, some another ; some 
dash headlong into the very arms of danger ; and others, 
in their endeavour to escape, rush wildly on their com- 
rades' bayonets. Many a brave man fell in this sad affair ; 
wives were bereaved of their husbands, and children of 
their parents ; for but few, as I have said before, survived 
to tell the tale of wo. We afterward learned, from the 
Nepaulese, that no men ever fought better. One captain 
of the honourable Company's Artillery fired six shots, 
after the whole of his European and Native gunners had 
been cut down at their guns. This officer's name was 
Matthews, and he was one of the few who escaped from 
this dreadful carnage. Lieutenant Charles Smith, of the 
old 15th Regiment, Native Infantry, fought gallantly, but 
was obliged to fly, being nearly left alone. A strange 
coincidence happened to this i3rave officer. He was a 
remarkably stout and heavy man, and could not swim : 
but, strange to say, he crossed a ditch some fourteen feet 
wide and ten teet deep : but how, he knows not. I have, 
in the course of my military life, been told of things I had 
myself done while in action, of which I was quite uncon- 
scious ; I am therefore of opinion that, when in action^ 
and the danger imminent, the mind is so intent upon the 
nre?ervation of life, that you know not what you i\o. Poor 



MEMOIUS OF JOHN SIIIPP. 179 

f5mith often related this fact to me, with the assurance 
that all lie could recollect was, that he sunk to the bottom, 
and made a desperate plunge to reach the opposite bank ; 
but how he ascended the steep bank, or whetiier he was 
assisted or not, ha never knew. Captain vSibley, of the 
Company's service, fell on this occasion, gallantly endea- 
vouring to rally his panic-struck little force. He fell a 
victim to his zeal, leaving a wife and family to bewail his 
loss. The fact of brave men being lost in this way is 
doubly felt and lamented, not only by th^ir disconsolate 
families, but by the army in general, by whom the catas- 
trophe of Summanpore and Pcrsah will ever be remem- 
bered. 

Thus ended ray doleful narrative, by which my young 
companion was much affected, and we passed the night 
witiiout any lui-ther annovance. 



CHAPTER XIV. 

The next morning we were in marching-order betimes. 
and started with the determination of joining our regi- 
ment as early in the day as possible. VVe overtook them 
about nine o'clock, just as they had crossed a nullah, and 
;iad halted on the opposite bank. I immediately sought 
Vie acting adjutant, from whom, after I had announced 
lay name, and delivered my credentials, 1 received every 
|>olitenes3 and attention. He introduced me at once to 
ihe commanding-officer, Lieutenant-Colonel Miller, C.B., 
,vho received me in the most cordial manner, congratu- 
lated me on my appointment, and expressed himself much 
pleased at my accession to the regiment. All the officers 
<)f the corps flocked round me, and greeted me in the 
most handsome and friendly manner, every one of them 
inviting rae to breakfast. That invitation, however, I had 
previously received from the kind commander of the 
Prince's Own Irish Regiment. This liberal conduct was 



180 MEMOIRS OF JOHN SHIPP. 

the more gratifying to my feelings, as I must confess I did 
not anticipate any such friendly reception. I was well 
aware of the existing prejudice, and the caution with 
which officers promoted from the ranks were usually re- 
ceived ; but no such prejudice prevailed in this distin- 
guished corps : on the contrary, had I been the son of a 
duke, my reception could not have been more flattering or 
friendly. It is true that I had the most flattering letters 
of introduction from my late commanding-ofiicer to my 
present, but as I had not delivered them, the kindness 
which I experienced was wholly spontaneous and unso- 
licited, and the result of liberal and benevolent feeling. 
My young companion was received by all in the same 
handsome manner. 

As I found that the jacket, which I had had made for 
me in haste when I was ordered to join the regiment, was 
widely different from the uniform of the corps, I apolo- 
gized for this to the colonel while at breakfast, and he re- 
lieved me from ail anxiety on that score, by replying, '' Ah, 
never mind ; the one you have will do very well for fight- 
ing in, as it is supposed we shall have some pretty hard 
service." 

The following day the regiment reached the ground on 
which the army engaged in the arduous campaign of Ne- 
paul, in the years 1816 and 1816, had been directed to 
form. It was at a place called Ammowah, about thirty- 
five miles from the great forest of NepauL At the back 
of this forest were the strong forts and stockades of the 
enemy, on hills whose summits were crowned with milk- 
white clouds, fringed with glittering gold ; and in the dis- 
tance were to be seen the snov/y mountains proudly tow- 
ering over the heads of the more humble hills bolow. 

Considerable delay now occurred in the formation of 
the army, and time began to hang heavy on our hands, 
although we had good hunting, shooting, and racing, and 
did our best to amuse ourselves when off" active duty. 
But this was not the sort of sport for which we were as- 
sembled in arms in this wild and romantic territory of the 
Nepaulese. Our object was to reduce this artful and war- 
like tribe to subjection ; for our disasters the year before 
had made them bold and overbearing, and had incited 



MOIOIRS OF JOHN SHIPP. 181 

them to laugh to scorn all overtures of amicable arrange- 
ment. They trusted, and not without good cause, to .the 
almost inaccessible nature of their country, and, fromtheii 
tremendous fortified hills and stockades, looked down witl; 
contempt on the little foe below. 

The necessary preliminaries to this arduous enterprise 
having been at length duly arranged, things began to take 
a more active turn, and in three days after we bent our 
way towards that forest that for ages past had been the 
terror of the East, and was indeed a bulwark to the Ne- 
paul territory. Our march was necessarily slow and 
tedious ; but in three days we reached a place called Sum . 
marabassah, on the very margin of that terrific forest. On 
the last day 1 was in the rear-guard, which did not reach 
camp until late in the evening, although a distance of not 
2nore than ten miles. The roads on which we marched 
might, with great propriety, be termed bogs. They 
abounded with deep nullahs or ravines, with abrupt banks 
of a clayey nature. Our heavy guns we were compelled 
to get over by means of men and drag-ropes, for the 
bullocks had no footing, and many of these poor creatures 
were much hurt in the attempt to perform this labour. 
After the camp was in sight, we were three hours ere we 
reached it. We had marched at about four o'clock in the 
morning, without breakfast, expecting to reach our ground 
by nine, the usual time, instead of which we did not get 
in until past four o'clock in the afternoon, and then half 
famished. 

We at last reached camp, in front of which, in a kind 
of inlet to the forest, stood a large building, two stories 
high, forming a square. This was built of stone, and 
tiled ; and had only one entrance, which was a small door. 
This security was, no doubt, to protect the inmates 
against depredation, and from the nocturnal visits of 
savage animals. It was supposed to have been the resi- 
dence of the collector of the lowlands or valleys. At this 
place we established a strong depot, or principal place of 
communication, where we could deposit cumbersome or 
superfluous stores with safety. On the forest side we 
erected a strong breast- work or stockade, with a wide and 

Vol. 1,^W 



182 MEMOIRS OF JOHN Slliri'. 

deep ditch, and embrasures for some guns — I now forget 
the number — I think four. 

The following day, Captain Gaily, Lieutenants Mas- 
terson, Lee, Bowes, and Ensign Shipp, must needs take 
a morning ride, and a peep into this dark and dreary fo" 
rest, — the awe of man, and the haunts of beasts. We 
had not gone far,when we saw several bears near a water- 
brook,— no doubt for the purpose of a morning swim, for 
the weather was warm. A little farther, we struck into a 
path, about a yard wide, which we all agreed to explore. 
On each side of this path the underwood was thick and 
dark ; the trees were of an enormous and gigantic size ; 
every hundred yards were places where it was evident that 
iires bad been kindled ; and hirge trees had been cut down, 
and were piled across the pathway, for the prevention, 
beyond question, of intruders. We rode on till prudence 
suggested the propriety of returning ; but our curiosity 
was not yet satisfied, so we mutually agreed to proceed 
about two miles farther. At last we came to a fire which 
was still burning. Here we called a consultation, and at 
last again agreed to proceed about two miles farther. This 
distance brought us so close to the hills, that we could 
discover men moving on them. About a mile farther was 
the end of the dark and frightful forest of Nepaul, which, 
the year before, had kept five thousand men at bay. At 
the end was some open ground, with large clumps of bam- 
boo-trees, and the open space pebbly. It was evident that 
this space was covered with water during the monsoons. 
We still rode on a little farther, until at last we saw some 
men running across the road, whereupon we unanimously 
agreed that it was high time to return, havmg satisfied our 
curiosity to the full, and at the risk of our lives. We 
were fearful that they might have observed us, and have 
despatched a detachment to cut off our retreat ; and we 
now began to count our beads of repentance ; but the 
trial was to be made, — so on we pushed, and reached 
camp without molestation, thanking the auspicious stars 
that were our safeguards. The distance we had ridden 
was about thirteen miles, which, being doubled, made a 
pretty good morning's ride ; add to which, that during the 
excursion we had leapt over about a hundred large trees. 



MEMOIRS OF JOHN SHIPP. IBS 

F-or this piece of palpable indiscretion "we were, as we 
richly deservedj most severely admonished ; but the in- 
formation which we had gained was truly acceptable, and 
we the foJiowing- day cc; imenced our march, taking the 
road which we had so rashly explored, precedpd by pio- 
neers, who soon cleared a way, and made a good carnage- 
road. We had scarcely any stoppage, nor did we see a 
soul of the enemy, ff small stockades had been thrown 
across this narrow pathway, our loss of men must have 
been great ; hut the supposed inaccessible nature of their 
mountains made the enemy shmiber in security. We soon 
got through the aveime, and continu^^d our march through 
the pebbly bed before alluded to. About a mile ahead 
of this, a small plain opened to view, studded with small 
bushes, at the extreme erul of which the bed of the dry 
ravine took a direction to the left. Here a most saagnifi- 
cent scene burst upon the sight. The hills at this point 
rr-;presented a flight of stairs ; one reared its golden sum- 
mit above the other in beautiful succession ; the whole of 
them were wooded with the most beautiful variegated trees 
and shrubs ; and, here and there, majehtic rocks elevated 
their proud heads, and seemed to bid defiance to the be- 
sieging enemy. At the foot, or base, of these hills, were 
posted two strong piquets of the enemy ; one on a hill to 
the right, in a house similar to the one described at Sura- 
merabassah : but on our approach they f3ew into the hills 
in the vicinity, without giving us a shot in earnest of being 
our enemy. This silence on the part of a subtle and 
cunning foe, informed us, in plain terms, that something 
was brewing for us. They seemed to coax and invite us 
to advance and view their picturesque country, it was 
necessary to establish here a post of communicatione 
through which we could obtain supphes ; for which pur- 
pose the house just spoken of was fortified, and a depot 
established. Here we waited until this post was well 
stored with every requisite for war. During this time, the 
quarter-master-general's department was busily employed 
in reconnoitring the surrounding country ; but, from the 
intricacy of its nature, but little information could be ob- 
tained which we could on sure grounds act upon. At 
last, after our patience was worn almost threadbare with 



184 MEMOIRS OF JOHN SHIPPo 

this delay, it was given out, as the firm opinion of the 
quarter-master-general (grounded on unquestionable in- 
formation from his trustworthy spies), that to force aii 
sntrance at this point would be attended with the most 
disastrous consequences. To risk a failure at the com- 
mencement of a war against such a foe, would have been 
the basis of our ultimate defeat and destruction ; and it 
appeared, from information not to be doubted, that in the 
direction which we had thought of taking, there were 
stockade upon stockade, and fort upon fort. The attempt, 
therefore, to prosecute our enterprise in this direction^ 
under all these circumstances, cou'd be considered in no 
other light than wantonly knocking our heads against the 
flinty rocks, or offering our shattered limbs as wadding for 
die enemy's guns, or our bodies to fill up some deep 
vacuity in their new and numerous stockades. We had 
more than fifty years' dear-bought experience, and an 
officer seventy years of age for our guide. The young 
and inexperienced officers, in the ardour of youth, felt 
mortified at this information ; and, had their will and 
feelings been consulted, they would have madly rushed to 
iheir graves. 

It was the opinion of the more calm-thhiking and ex- 
perienced men, that if, after the information we possessed, 
we had proceeded in the same track, and a failure had 
been the result, the whole dishonour of the catastrophe 
would have fallen on the head of the commander, and 
have been visited with the government's disapprobation 
and censu^e ; but we had at our head a soldier possessing 
every requisite for such a critical campaign, and whose 
thoughts were now turned to some more practicable part 
of the country. Every one was actively engaged in the 
attempt to discover some new road, path, or ascent. 
Spies had now been absent two days, and some apprehen- 
sions were entertained as to their safety, knowing the bar- 
barity of the Nepaulese ; but on the evening of the third 
day they returned ; but not a syllable could be gleamed 
from the quarter-master-general's department : every ear 
was on the listen, to catch the slightest bint, but all was 
silence and sscrecy throughout the camp. Rumoure 
vere flying about, and strange stories were circulated ; 



HEMOIRS OF JOHN SHIPP. 185 

but tlie prevailing opinion was, that he must give up the 
campaign, on account of an impossibility of access into 
the enemy's country. This was a death-blow to our 
hopes. The attempt to force the entrance above alluded 
to, would have been through the Chirecah Ghattie Pass ; 
but this was wisely given up as hopeless. There was a 
small ravine branching off from the bed of a dry river, in 
which our encampment lay, and its entrance looked hke 
the dreary access to some deep cavern. From thence 
the spies last came. The moon rose in ail her splendour, 
gilding the tops of the golden leaved trees, and all was 
silent, save the falling of the distant cataract, when a faint 
whisper, borne on the refreshing breeze of night, said. 
" Prepare to move ;" and in one hour after we pnterecl 
this little gaping cavern, leaving the principal part of our 
force for the protection of our standing tents and baggage. 
We were equipped as lightly as possible. Two six- 
pounders were conveyed on elephanfs, and our march 
seemed to lie through the bed of this ravine, which was 
rocky, and watered by a crystal current, that rippled 
along its flinty bed. We did not proceed ai the rate of 
more than one or two hundred yards an hour, ascending- 
" and descending every twenty paces ;, at one time deep 
sunk in some dark excavation, and shortly afterward 
perched upon the summit of a rock, the falling of the 
Hurnerous cataracts drowning the noise made by (tur 
approach. The night was cold and chilly, but as light as 
noon-day : not a cloud was to be seen ; the sky was as 
one sheet of beautiful blue ; but in some of the excava- 
iions, where the blessed moon never condescended to 
show her bright face, we were obhffed to go back to hoy- 
hood, and have a game of bhnd-man's.buff, for in those 
places we were obliged to grope our way completely in 
the dark. In these excavations the water was deep 
and cold ; but even in these dreary spots we experienced 
some pleasure, for occasionally, through little fissures in 
the rock, we could espy the distant nioon-lit landscape, 
which appeared as though viewed through a spy-glass, 
and was beautiful in the extreme. 

Had the enemy been aware of our nocturnal excursion, 
they might have annihilated us, by roiling down rocks and 

16* 



186 MEMOIES OF JOHN SHIPP« 

stones upon our heads ; but, fortunately for us, they slum 
bered on the couch of fancied security, and heard us not. 
What with falling and slipping, we became wet through j 
but, as I had that night the honour of bearing my country's 
banner, this was a charge, the care of which afforded me 
neither time nor inclination to attend to personal an- 
noyance or personal comfort. 1 felt that, while it was un- 
tarnished I should be proud and happy. My covering- 
sergeant once had the assurance to ask me to permit him 
to deprive me of the encumbrance. 1 really thought I 
should have jumped down the fellow's throat. " An 
encumbrance!" 1 repeated ; *' how dare you to cast such 
an imputation on England's pride? JNo, sergeant : he 
who takes this colour, when before an enemy, will take 
with it my life."- — " I beg pardon, sir ; I did not intend 
to offend you, or, cast a rellection on that flag under 
which I have fought and bled." I rephed, — "-No, ser- 
geant, I know you did not intend to offend me, or cast a 
stigma upon the colour ; but supposmg that I should be 
so imprudent as to give up such a charge to you, and you 
should lose it, or be killed, or meet with any other accident-, 
which in the course of war we are liable to, what answer 
should I make my justly-offended country, when asked, 
where is the banner that was intrusted to your charge ? 
What excuse would it be to say, I gave it to a sergeant 
to carry ? Should I not deserve to be carried to the 
gallows ? No, sergeant, the post of ensign is one of most 
distinguished trust, and so long as I hold that commission, 
nothing but death shall part me and my flag, while it is 
my duty to bear it ; but your offer was that of kindness. 
Come, let us drink to its prosperity." Here I gave him 
my little pistol, or brandy- bottle, and, in the most prophetic 
manner, he said, " Well, Sir, God bless and prosper our 
old banner ; and, ere to-morrow's dawn, may you wave it 
over a conquered foe. I took a drop, and said, ameu. 
My young friend, who had journeyed with me from Dina« 
pore, and who was now my chum, had the honour of car- 
/ying the other flag, and he also gloried in the distinction ; 
and, although he had some twenty desperate falls, and 
sprained his thumb, he would not part with it. 
Our march now became more and more tardy, and the 



MEMOIBS^ OF JOHN s:hIP?. IST 

ascents and descents more difficult and intricate. In 
some places, rocks of gigantic size hung some hundred 
ieet over head. These sudden and tremendous hills and 
dales indicated that we could not have far to go ; for the 
last hill was scarcely accessible. The soles of both my 
boots had long refused to bear me company any further ; 
but I had one faithful soul that bore me through every 
difficulty and hardship. 

The morn now began to break through the cerulean 
chambers of the east, the faithful moon still lingering on 
the tops of the western hills, loath to bid us farewell. I 
was of course in the centre of my regiment. We halted 
a considerable time, — till broad daylight, when we could 
see, from where I stood, the soldiers in advance of us, 
ascending by means of projecting rocks and boughs. We 
were halted in a kind of basin, surrounded by high hills. 
In the course of a couple of hours, the whole of the 87th 
regiment, with our gallant general and suite, ascended 
this difficult ghaut. From this eminence we could see a 
great distance ; and on every hill we could discern signals, 
which were communicated from post to post. From this 
we concluded that the enemy had gained information of 
our approach ; but I do not think they knew whereabouts 
we were, as will appear afterward, but merely that some 
of our troops had marched from their old ground. 

What will not good examples effect on the minds of 
soldiers ? Our gallant general walked every yard of this 
critical march, encouraging his men. These welt-timed 
examples will accomplish wonders. The question now 
was, how to get the guns up, and the powder and shot ; 
but those who are accustomed to wars in India are not 
often at a loss for expedients. Having got all the men up.j 
except the rear-guard, the pioneers went to work with 
their pickaxes, some making a road, and others feUing 
trees. As we were but two regiments, the general's 
primary object was to place our little force to the best 
advantage. This accomplished, the guns were our next 
object. Having cut a good deal of the most prominent 
part of the hill away, and lain trees on the ascent, as a 
footing for elephants, these animals were made to approach 
it, which the first did with some reluct'ance and fear 



1^8 MEMOIRS OP JOHK SHIPP. 

He looked up, shook his head, and, when forced by his 
driver, he roared piteously. There can be no question, 
in my opinion, that this sagacious animal was competent 
instinctively to judge of the practicability of the artificial 
flight of steps thus constructed ; for the moment some 
little alteration had been made, he seemed willing to 
approach. He then commenced his examination and 
scrutiny, by pressing with his trunk the trees that had been 
thrown across ; and after this he put his fore leg on, with 
great caution, raising the fore part of his body so as to 
throw its weight on the tree. This done, he seemed 
satisfied as to its stability. The next step for him to 
ascend by was a projecting rock, which we could not 
remove. Here the same sagacious exauiination took 
place, the elephant keeping his flat side close to the side 
of the bank, and leaning against it. The next step was 
against a tree ; but this, on the first pressure of his trunk, 
he did not like. Here his driver made use of the most 
endearing epithets, such as, " Wonderful, my life," — • 
^' Well done, my dear,"—" My dove,"—'-' My son,"— - 
"My wife:"— but all these endearing appellations, of 
which elephants are so fond, would not induce him to try 
again. Force was at length resorted to, and the elephant 
roared terrifically, but would not move. Something was 
then removed ; he seemed satisfied, as before ; and he in 
time ascended that stupendous ghaut. On his reaching 
the top, his dehght was visible in a most eminent degree ; 
he caressed his keeper, and threw the dirt about in a most 
playful manner. Another elephant, a much younger 
animal, was no^v to follow. He had watched the ascent 
of the other with the most intense ijiterest, making 
motions all the while, as though he was assistmg him, by 
shouldering him up the acclivity ;— -such gestures as 1 
have seen some men make when spectators of gymnastic 
exercises. When he saw his cornrarie up, he evinced 
his pleasure, by g^tvitig a salute something like the sound 
of a trumpet. When called upon to take his turn, how- 
ever, he seemed much alarmed, and would not act at all 
without force. When he was two steps up, he slipped, 
but recovered himself, by digging his toes in the earth. 
With the exception of this little accident, he ascended ex^ 



MEMOIRS OF JOHN SIIIPP. 189 

ceedingly well. When this elephant was near the top^ 
the other, who had already performed his task, extended 
his trunk to the assistance of his brother in distress, round 
which the younger animal entwined his^ and thus reached 
the summit of the ghaut in safety. Having both accom- 
plished their task, their greeting was as cordial as if they 
had been long separated from each other, and had just 
escaped f om some perilous achievement. They mutually 
embraced each other, and stood face to face for a con- 
siderable time, as if whispering congratulations. Their 
driver then made them salam to the general, who ordered 
them five rupees each for sweetmeats. On this reward of 
their merit being ordered, they immediately returned 
thanks by another salam 

At the top of thivs ghaut we left five companies of Native 
Infantry to protect our baggage, that must necessarily fol- 
low through this pass. Pioneers were also left to cut 
down the hill, so that pur large guns might be dragged up 
by means of men. This arranged we pushed on for 
about a couple of miles. Our route lay through the bed 
of a river, which was then dry, but which, trom the enor- 
mous trees that had been washed down its current, must be 
rapid and destructive during the monsoons. I believe the 
whole distance we had accomplished did not exceed five 
miles, and we had been upwards of sixteen hours on the 
move. By the evening, the enemy had learned of our 
being in their country with a large force, with elephants, 
guns, &c. which so much alarmed them, that they dared 
not so much as to take a peep at us. They said that we 
were not men, but devils, and that we must have descended 
from the skies. Some set forth that we were seen soaring 
in the air in aerial cars, drawn by elephants. Thus, their 
idolatrous superstition frightened them out of their wits, 
and, until some of them, more courageous than the rest, 
had ventured and felt that we were men, they could not be 
prevailed upon to return to their posts, nor would they 
ever believe that we had ascended the ghaut ; and, indeed^ 
to view it even after the hill had undergone such a meta- 
morphosis, it was then almost beyond credit that the 
whole army, with twenty-four poundersj should havs beesi 
got op, 



190 MEMOIRS OP JOHN SHIPP. 

Our next object was to keep firm possession of what we 
liad attained with so much difficulty ; for which purpose 
a small hill was selected for the general safety, on which 
we established outline piquets. From hence we could 
reconnoitre the surrounding neighbourhood ; but we had 
scared the foe far into the woods and hills. The beau- 
teous sun, which had in mercy dried our wet clothes, was 
now on the decline, but assumed such an awful colour, 
that it looked like a blood-stained banner. It had, when 
this idea came across my mind, half buried itself behind 
the highest hill visible from our new and exalted situation. 
When the sun had wholly retired behiriti the hills, the 
golden rays which lingered on the scene rendered it truly 
magnificent and ravishing. The mountains in the distance 
were so high, that their tops seeined to touch the clear 
blue clouds, while those, which exceeded the others in 
height, seemed pushing their neighbours headlong, to crush 
the foe below. 

When the sombre robe of eve began to spread itself 
over the beauteous scene, fires were seen as far as the 
eye could reach. These were signals of alarm, and we 
Gould not expect any thing less than a desperate effort to 
drive us down the ghaut again ; for the prevention of 
which every possible preparation was promptly made. 
We were cold, hungry, and barefouted. There had been 
an order th.it every man should bring three days' provi- 
sions ; but, by some mistake, this order had been neglected 
to be properly communicated, for it ought to have been 
verbally pubhshed on the morning of the day we marched. 
The expectation of something to do in the night made us 
forget the cold and hunger. An additional outline and 
advanced piquet was ordered, and I was the next for duty. 
This piquet was thrown out about two hundred yards in 
front of the others, — a subaltern's piquet. The first line 
of piquets threw out a chain of double sentinels, the 
extremities of which formed a line with those thrown out 
from the hill above, forming one-eighth of a circle round 
the general body. Mine was rather a picquet for recon- 
noitring, and, in case of alarm, to join the first piquet 
behind me. ft was now about twenty hours since we had 
anything to eat, 1 was therefore hungry, and, conse 



MEMOIRS OF JOHN SHIPP. 191 

quently, in good watching order, for an Englishman is 
always irritable and peevish when his belly is empty, 
Bepose was quite out of the question, for bedding we had 
none, except the earth. I could not sleep myself, and I 
took care that my little piquet did not slumber on their 
posts. Of water there was plenty, for a most lovely crys- 
tal brook murmured close by ; but we were quite cold 
enough without that. It grew dark and lonely, fires being 
forbidden to those on piquet, while those on the hill had 
enormous ones. Thiis posted, we fully expecter' to be at- 
tacked ; for the enemy was famous for night- v\ ork, I visited 
my sentinels every quarter of an hour. I could always find 
them by their teeth chattering. 1 had forbidden them from 
challenging me, as I gave them to understand I should 
always whistle when I was going round, and thus the en- 
emy would stumble upon my little piquet, and we could, 
if overpowered, retreat to a stronger. Thus things went 
on till the moon rose in all her eastern splendour, which 
enlivened the scene considerably; for, when she was 
thoroughly roused from her slumbers, we could see a great 
distance. All was hush as the tomb, save the crackling 
fagot, and the distant roaring of beasts of prey. All of 
a sudden, two of my sentinels bellowed out so that the 
echo resounded again,—-"' Who comes there ? Who comes 
there ?" Bang ! bang ! went both their muskets, and, in 
an instant, my whole piquet were on the spot ; and the 
whole line were ferreted out of their beds of dried leaves ; 
guns loaded ; matches lit ; all was ready for the conflict : 
when it was found that the alarm was occasioned by a bear 
or tiger lurking close upon our post, and which in all proba- 
bility, if not timely disturbed, would have walked off with 
one of our men. The circumstance was explained to air 
aid-de-carap who had arrived, and all was again quiet ; 
and the two sentinels got finely roasted by their comrades, 
who had been obliged to turn out from their hiding-places. 
Nought now was heard, save some pathetic execrations 
on the disturbers of the night, by some poor fellow who 
had lost his warm birth. Thus passed the night. This 
was in the month of January, and a bitter night it was. 

The following morning it was truly laughable to seethe 
men crawhng from a huge heap of dried leaves, like pigs 
out of their straw. Thus enveloped, they had managed 



192 MEMOIRS OF JOHN SHIPP. 

to keep themselves warm during the night. Some com 
panics' liquor and biscuit had arrived ; and biscuit had 
arrived ; and, a short time after dayhght, my men and 
myself had something to eat, in the delights of which meal 
we forgot the cares of a soldier, smiled on the hardships 
that were passed, and thought little of those to come. I 
had some tea, which revived me much. I must confess I 
do love to be on duty on any kind of service with the 
Irish. There is a promptness to obey, a hilarity, a cheer- 
ful obedience, and willingness to act, which I have rarely 
met with in any other body of men ; but whether, in this 
particular case, those qualifications had been instilled into 
them by the rigid discipline of their corps, 1 know not, or 
whether these are characteristics of the Irish nation ; but 
1 have also observed in that corps (I mean the 87th Regi- 
ment, or Prince's Own Irish), a degree of liberality 
amongst the men I have never seen in other corps, — a 
willingness to share their crust and drop on service with 
their comrades ; an indescribable cheerfulness in obli- 
ging and accommodating each other ; and an anxiety to 
serve each other, and to hide each other's faults. In that 
corps there was a unity I have never seen in any other ; 
and, as for fighting, they were very devils. During the 
peninsular war, some general officer observed to the Duke of, 
Wellington how unsteadily that corps marched. The no- 
ble duke replied, — *' Yes, general, they do indeed ; but 
they light like devils." So they always will while they 
are Irish. In some situations they are, perhaps, too impe- 
tuous, but, if I know anything of the service, this is a fault 
on the, right side ; and what at the moment was thought 
rashness and madness has gained Old England many a 
glorious victory. 

Our magical or aerial flight up the ghauts, with guns 
and elephants, seemed to have bewildered the enemy, for 
we could not get a glimpse of one of them ; and it is not 
clear to me that they had not flown to their capital, to see 
if some of us had alighted there, or that we were not soar- 
ing in the air in that vicinity. 

The sun rose in majestic splendour, and the scene be- 
fore us was a little world of woody hills and valleys. The 
brilliant rays of the luminary of day exhibited to the eye 



MEMOIKS OF JOHN SHIPP. 19S 

natiire's masterpiece in scenery. Golden woods that 
would have defied the pencil of an artist, and which sur- 
passed the sublimest creation of the imagination ; ghtter- 
ing hills, that vied in brilliancy with the rising sun ; rippling 
rills, that whispered, " Come, ye thirsty souls, and drink 
of the crystal brook ; and, ye passing seraphs, stay and 
dip your wings in tne pure stream, ere ye ascend to the 
realms of love ;" lofty towering pines, that nodded " Come 
and see the things on high ;" and cataracts, that rushed 
headlong down the rocky cliff, and imparted a wild beauty 
to t4ie whole beyond the power of words to describe. 
There sighed the weeping willows, which, by the coo! 
brook-side, dipped their new-born leaves in the rippling 
waters, to steal more tears that they might weep again. 
Thei-e sported the golden fish, sheltering themselves from 
the meridian sun, beneath the shade of the over-hanging 
foliage. There grew the blushing rose, calmly reposing 
on its downy moss, and smiling that it bad, when fair 
maidens were asleep, robbed their cheeks of all their 
beauty. There flourished the gaudy tulip ; and the blue- 
eyed violet dwelt on the mossy banks. The little minstrels 
of the grove tuned their morning notes, and their seraphic 
melody lulled the whole to sweet repose. Oh, that ever 
human blood should defile these beauteous scenes! or 
that the horrors of war should disturb the sweet harmony 
established by nature in the fertile valleys of this sweet and 
picturesque coutitry! But in this paradise of beauty 
dwelt a cruel and barbarous people, proverbial for their 
bloody deeds, whose hearts were more callous than the 
flinty rocks that reared their majestic heads above their 
woody mountains. They are more savage in their nature 
than the hungry tiger that prowls through their dreary 
glens ; cruel as the vulture ; cold-hearted as their snowy 
mountains ; subtle and cunning as the fiend of night ; 
powerful as the rocks on which they live ; and active as 
the goat upon the mountain's brow. 

We were obliged to proceed with caution, and with our 
eyes open, step by step. We had intended to have re- 
mained here the whole of this day, to enable our suppHes 
to come up ; but these having arrived earlv, we conb: 

Vol. I.— 17 



J94 MEMOIRS OF JOHN SHIPPo 

menced our march in continuation of the same bed of the 
river. We had not been in motion an hour, before the 
enemy's fires were lighted, as signals that we were again 
on the move. Our march was difficult, as we were obliged 
to cut our way through underwood, and pass through 
several rivers, which much impeded our progress. These 
streams are fed and nourished from the tremendous cata- 
racts from the high hills before us. We found that the 
enemy had strictly watched our movements during the 
night ; for every quarter of a mile w6 advanced we found 
iires still burning, and some earthen cooking-vessels in 
which they had boiled their rice. Having proceeded about 
a mile, we came to a sudden and abrupt turning in the 
river. Here we halted, and the Light Company was sent 
on to reconnoitre. We then moved on again, and when 
we had rounded the turning of the river, which swept 
round the bottom of a little hill, a small plain opened to 
our view. It was fertile with a kind of yellow grass, that 
perfumed the air with its odour, something like sandal- 
wood. This grass, we were informed afterward, was a 
deadly poison. Here we came to another halt, our spies 
having returned, and informed us that we were not far 
from a very strong post of the enemy. This news flew 
through the ranks like wildfire ; the flints were adjusted ; 
bayonets firmly fixed on ; cartridges arranged ; and every 
eye beamed delight. I did not much like my pretent situ- 
ation, in the centre of the regiment ; it was not what I 
had been used to ; but, being one of the youngest ensigns, 
I was obliged to comply. { thought it strange that the 
colours should be in the centre, and would, if I had dared 
to make such a proposition, have suggested that they 
might be moved to the front ; but my commanding officer^ 
good and kind as he was, would, I am sure, have rode me 
down for my impudence ; so I contented myself by getting 
on the toes of my lower extremities, and peeping over the 
men's heads to see what was going on. The Light Com- 
pany were busy all this time in exploring and examining 
the localities on our right and left, that we might not be 
hemmed in. This is a necessary precaution in a moun- 
tainous country ; for the enemy may open the door to you 
to enter, and, when well ia, may shut you in,^so as to leave 



MEMOIRS OF JOHN SHIPr* 196 

you no possibility of escape. Young officer, never be in« 
, veigled in this manner, but take care — especial care, that 
you can always ensure that last extremity, — a good retreat. 
My eyes lingered on the Light Bobs as they ascended the 
surrounding hills, and I wished to be with them, to see 
what was to be seen. This was a most critical campaign? 
and required more prudence and caution than I ever pos- 
sessed in the whole course of my hfe. In such a country 
you could not tell but your next step might he in the can- 
non's mouth. 1 was thus thinking, when I saw the adju- 
tant running towards the centre of the regiment, vocifera- 
ting, — '"'• Pass the word ibr Mr. Shipp ; pass the word for 
Mr. Shipp." — ''Holloa!" thought J, ^' what 's all this 
about?" At last he came up to me, and said 1 was to 
join the Light Company immediately. This was making 
me a Light Bob, indeed. I made over the colour to my 
covering sergeant, by the adjutant's desire ; but, at that 
moment, a thought struck me, that perhaps this was the 
last time I should ever b-ear it, for I could not foresee but 
that that day,' — nay, that fleeting hour, might be my last ; 
so I pressed the colour to my bosom and kissed it : why 
should I be ashamed of it ? I was a soldier, and the oft 
blood-stained banner was my pride. 

I soon joined the Light Bobs, for I could run and jump 
with the best of thens and the column now proceeded 
slowly. The fine Light Company of the 25th Regiment 
of Bengal Native Infantry were with us, and there was 
the greatest intimacy between this Native Company and 
ours, and more familiarity and good-fellowship than I had 
ever witnessed during my course of service in India. We 
now ascended a small hill, at the bottom of v^hich we saw 
several men running away. Our soldiers were not cruel, 
nor did they ever wantonly throw away their fire. A sol- 
dier ought to guard evtry round intrusted to his care, for 
the protection of his country and himself, as the apple of 
his eye ; many a brave nian has lost his life in battle for 
the want of a round of ammunition, which, in all proba- 
bility, he had been careless of at the beginning. It is not 
only a crime, but a folly, for men to be wanton in this par- 
ticular. I took about ten men with me, and the acting 
adjutant followed, and we soon came up with these poor 



196 MEMOIRS OF JOHN SHIPP. 

fn^htenc<Land bewildered creatures. They threw them 
selves on the earth, but did not supplicate for mercy, a 
thing unknown among themselves. They seemed rather 
to meet the pointed bayonet, than to run or cringe from 
it ; but, when they saw that we did not lay on them the 
finger of harm, they kissed our feet and then the earth in 
token of gratitude. These poor creatures were not sol- 
diers, but poor, solitary, and oppressed villagers, that had 
been sent for rice, of which they carry sfreat loads, by a 
strap or belt over their heads, in baskets made of the 
willow-twig. We were directed by our general to let 
them go, that they might tell our enemies that we were 
not blood thirsty murderers. When this was communi- 
cated to them by one of their countrymen, the eye of fear 
brightened up ; we could see the tear of joy in their eyes ; 
they bowed a hundred times in the most abject prostra- 
tions to our feet ; then stood towards their village, seem- 
ingly dispossessed of any fear. I dare say these poor 
starving creatures would willingly have sought protection 
under the shadow of our mercy, rather than return to be 
the slaves of a tyrannic government. 

We now came to a wide river with a rocky bed, and, a 
little higher up, was the strong post before alluded to^ 
We could see the ends of the houses standing some thirty 
yards from the river, whose banks, at this place, were high 
and abrupt. We therefore crossed a little lower down, 
when the 87th Light Company was pushed on at a good 
round trot. Here was a square building, something like 
what 1 have before described at Summerabassah, but on a 
much larger and stronger scale. This we surrounded and 
entered. About fifty men were in the place ; but, on 
seeing us enter, they ran out at an opposite door, but 
were met by the European soldiers. Many of them es- 
caped ; the others, some of whom showed fight, were 
killed. The house was empty, except that some unshelled 
rice and saltj)etre were strewn about it. On looking 
round, we discovered another building of a similar nature, 
about three hundred yards further in the wood, to which 
there was a narrow path. Into this we struck, and ex- 
pected, every moment, to be saluted with the contents of 
■A, canister of grape, or with a volley of musketry ; for the' 



MEMOIRS OF JOHN siiirp. 197 

"building commarKled this road or pathway from two or 
three hundred loop-holes. In this building, or rather, near 
the door of it, lay a man dead, dreadfully n utilated We 
pushed in, and the few soldiers that occupiec' the house 
ran out into the wood, which was close to this buildingg 
and thus escaped, with the exception of about five or six, 
who W£re shot by some good marksmen. This house was 
also empty, save that some little grain was scattered about 
here and there. They did not, I should suppose, expect 
us to dinner, although their cooking utensils, well filled, 
were boihng on the fire. These we broke for fiear of 
poison, a crime they were fully capable of. On looking 
at the poor mutilated man, he was discovered to be one of 
our spies, respecting whom our kind-hearted quarter- 
master-general had expressed the most anxious solicitude. 
My expressions, in describing these savages, may have 
been thought to have been too severe and exaggerated, 
when I accused them of being barbarous and cruel ; but 
the reader shall now judge for himself whether or not this 
accusation was unfounded. 

In all nations, even in Europe, the practice of punishing 
spies is recognised as just ; hut their executic n is gene- 
rally public, and not without the sanction and approbation 
of the Governor or Commander-in-chief; and no piquet, 
post, or guard, dare infiict the penalty of death. This 
poor creature was seized, and literally cut to pieces ; and 
it was supposed, by the medical people, that he mupt have 
died a death of extreme agony, for the grount under him 
was dug up with his strugghrig under the torture which 
had been inflicted on him. His arms had been cut off, 
about half way up from the elbow to the shoulder ; after 
which it appeared that two deep incisions had been cut in 
his body just above the hips, into which the two arms had 
been thrust. His features were distorted in a most frightful 
manner. Our poor fieiiows wept bitterly over the sightj 
and swore, in the bitterness of their anger, that they would 
revenge this foul and bloody deed ; and I had great diffi- 
culty, with their gallant captain, in restraining them from 
following those savages into the wood. The pioneers 
having arrived, the poor wretch was committed to his last 
home, amidst the sympathy of all around. 



198 MEMOIKS OF JOHN S1II?F« 

Ettoondah was tbe name of the place where ihi3 
barbarous murder had been committed, and a more 
lovely or more picturesque spot there is not in the created 
world. 

Here we had some tolerably good fishing, by tying our 
horse-blankets together, and then dragging the stream. 
We remained here some days, for the purpose of making 
this our grand depot, for which purpose, in the lower 
house, which was better situated than the other, and not 
so near the wood, we built a large and strong stockade, 
with six embrasures for guns. This house we converted 
into store-rooms, and here we left all our superfluous 
baggage. I had no superfluities ; one thmg on and one 
ofl' was quite enough for any man on such a service, and 
I often regretted, with many of my brother officers, that 
we had not brought packs, like the men, which would have 
carried our all safely, and entirely relieved us from the 
apprehension which we now felt of losing those things not 
immediately in our presence. 

The domestic fowls, kept by the natives, had strayed 
into the adjoining woods, ard there bred, and had become 
very numerous. At night they roosted on the trees, 
without any apparent fear of molestation. Firing was 
most strictly prohibited within a mile of camp ; and justly 
so, or we should, if permitted, have had the soldiers firing 
away their ammunition, and the camp alarmed. Many of 
the fowls, however, were caught and eat. 



CHAPTER XV, 

In three or four days we again moved on. The 87tk 
being the only European corps with this part of the 
division, we always led the column, or, rather, formed the 
advance-guard. We commenced our march ; and rather 
wishing to see, instead of groping, our way, we went ori 
through a dense thick wood for a couple of miles, through 
which there was a tolerably good road, so that our troops? 



MEMOIRS OF JOHN SHIPP. 199 

travelled with comparative facility. When at the end of 
two miles, we came to a small open space, where several 
fires were still alight and burning, and earthen pots ieft 
behind. About the middle of this little plain was a river 
about knee-deep. On the margin of the wood on the 
opposite side of this river, several people were seen 
peepmg through the green foliage, watching our move- 
ments. We entered another thick wood, which brought 
us to the bank of another river ; but the road did not 
cross it, but went along the left bank, under a small hillj 
from which it had apparently been cut by manual labour. 
This was rather a dangerous place to enter. A high and 
inaccessible hill was on one side, and a deep bank and 
river on the other ; and on the opposite &ide of the river 
was a kind of rising bank, behind which the enemy might 
be lying in ambush, and waiting till we had got well in 
before they commenced firing. In this case their fire 
must have been very destructive from both sides, without 
the possibility of escape or defence, and the confusion 
would have been dreadful. But Major-General Sir David 
Ochterlony was not to be entrapped in that manner ; these 
points were scrupulously explored before we attempted to 
enter such a place of insecurity. 

At the end of this winding road, there opened to the 
view an extensive valley, and, here and there, small 
straggling villages, consisting of some ten or more huts ; 
but very few people could be seen, and those few were 
poor villagers. We continued our march for about half 
a mile further, when we saw on our left an extensive vil- 
lage, and, on the hills immediately in its rear, an immense 
niimber of people, seemingly soldiers, for we could see 
spears, colours, &c. We immediately bent our way 
towards this village, as we saw numerous people running 
to and fro. When near, we got into double-quick time, 
and then separated into files, with our pieces loaded. 1 
went into several huts, where nothing but a set of poor 
decrepit old people could be seen. About twenty or 
thirty yards further, I saw a two-story brick house, pro- 
bably the Zemindar's, for there was no other. Here I 
saw several good-looking and well-dressed men run in 
and shut the door. I broke it open, with the assistance of 



200 MEMOIES OF JOHN SHIPF. 

some of my men. When I entered the lowe? floor, I 
found there were several men thf-re. One was sitting ; 
but having gone from the light, and a bright sun, into 
comparative darkness, I could scarcely see. 1 was, there- 
fore, obkged to prick my way with my old 24ih Dragoon 
sabre ; and I just recovered my vision in time to see a man 
aiming an arrow at me. I struck at the arrow, which 
was close to me; but, from the indistinct light, I could 
not make sure of my aim. He let fly, and the arrow 
could not have been more than a hair's breadth from the 
side of my head. It stuck in the door-post, when a 
soldier of the company, by name Quanbury, stopped his 
shootmg, by shooting him, for firing at his ofiicer. The 
others begged for mercy, which was willingly granted. 
Never did 1 see a man in the 87th Begiment wantonly 
commit an act of cruelty. We took them prisoners, but 
they were ultimately discharged, and permitted to return 
to their villages or homes. 

A little further on, we came in ?ight of Muckwanpore 
Valley, and an immense long line of huts. 1 hese, we 
afterward were given to understand, were the summer 
quarters of the enemy's soldiers. On our left ran a ridge 
of hills, covered with variegated shrubs and trees. On 
this range of hills we could see soldiers posted in immense 
force, but they attempted not to molest our line of march, 
although sometimes, I am sure, within shot of their gin- 
jalis. They seemed rather to be on the defensive than 
the oflTensive, as we should have imagined. Various were 
the opinions as to their apparent indifference to our run- 
mng all over the country. From these huts, or military 
cantonments, we could see the fort of Muckwanpore, and 
innumerable large stockades on the hill in the rear of the 
one immediately in front of the before-mentioned huts. 
The fort appeared som^e miles off, and lot)ked like a speck 
in the sky ; but, no doubt, the approaches to it, protected 
as it was by the stockades which we could see with the 
spy-glass, were extremely perilous. We encamped in the 
lines which had been left by the enemy, and could not 
have been more than one mile and a half from the summit 
of this hill. However, they still continued passive, sitting 
upon their legs, watching our movements. Our position 



MrMOIRS OF JOHN SIIIPP. ^01 

was secure and strong, being on two sides surrounded 
with a deep nullah, with a nice rippling stream. 

The following morning was occupied in looking about 
our new encampment, and seeing what was in the adjoin- 
ing woods. We found nothing but a few partridges and 
woodcocks, and these we could not shoot, being too near 
camp. About a mile behind the camp the whole scenery 
around was truly romantic, horn the white and craggy 
rocks, apparently living in the clouds, behind which not a 
tree nor a shrub was to be seen. These could only be 
seen night and morning, or when the sky was clear ; at 
other times, these hills could not be discovered through 
the clouds. The fort itself seemed high, and almost 
beyond the power of mortal ascent. For the first time 
these ten nights I obtained some sleep, having no charge, 
and no care on my mind. Sleeping in my clothes was no 
inconvenience to me. I slept soundly till the broad day- 
light broke in through the crevices of the tent. I rose in 
the morning sprightly as a lark, and indulged myself with 
dry and clean linen, which was quite a treat. 1 felt so 
refreshed, that 1 was quite another being from the day 
before, and fit for any thing. I took a stroll round my 
brother officers' tents ; paid my devoirs to my commanding 
officer, which I never failed to do once a day, as a duty, 
and a respect due to his rank. I was invited to breakfast 
with him ; after which, as we were standing looking at 
the hill, we were not a httle surprised to find that the 
strong piquet of the enemy, which was posted there the 
night before, was not to be seen. Two of our men were 
brought before the commanding officer, for having gone 
beyond the outline piquet. The fact was, that these im- 
prudent fellows had been upon the hill, where the piquet 
had been, unarmed. After admonishing them for their 
imprudence and disobedience of orders, the commanding 
officer asked one of them what he saw ; he replied, 
*< Nothing at all, your honour, but a great big piquet ; and 
sure they were not there, but all gone." He added^ 
that '' all their fires were alight, because he saw them 
burning." 

" And what did you see on the other side of this first 
hill ?" asked the colonel, trying to smother a laugh. 



i02 MEMOIRS OF JOHN SHIPP. 

^' Nothing at all, your honour.'' 

" Are there hills or valleys on the other side ?" 

"Neither, your honour : only a mighty big mountain* 
as big as the Hill of Howth." 

" Did you see any men ?" 

" Divel a one, your honour, except one poor old womap 
in one of the huts, and she was after going when she saw 
me and Pat Logan coming near her." 

*^ What took you there ?" 

" Fait ! we both went to take a big walk, for we were 
quite tired doing nothing — that 's all, your honour ; so I 
hope no offence." 

'« Fall in, the Light Company !"— " Light Company, 
fall in !" was bellowed through the whole line of encamp- 
ment. The colonel flew to the right ; the adjutant to 
the left; Iran one way ; and the two men jumped another, 
for they both belonged to the Light Company. Scarcely 
had I reached the parade, when three parts of the com- 
pany were under arms, with our noble general at the 
head, getting men together. It was five minutes only 
from the first order when we marched off, not a man 
absent. We soon found, by the direction we took, that 
the taking of the hill was to be our object. We moved 
on slowly, for it was a good half mile up the hill, and the 
ascent winding and steep. Our lads seemed as merry as 
crickets. In five minutes after we heard firing on the 
top of the hill to our right. This proceeded from a small 
reconnoitreing party that had a short period before gone 
up, under Lieutenant Lee, of the 87th Regiment, and 
Lieutenant Turrell, of the 2Uth Native Infantry, a brave 
young volunteer, who tell an early victim to his zeal. 
The design with which this reconnoitreing party had been 
desfjatched up the hill, was to protect the quarter-master^ 
general in the execution of the duties incident to his de- 
partment. This party being observed from the fort of 
Muckwanpore, which overlooked the ground on which 
they were reconnoitreing, a large body of the enemy, who 
had, without orders, vacated the post immediately in front 
of our encampment, were despatched to re-occupy the 
position which they had deserted, and in their advance 
they fell in with our reconnoilreing party, who^ as they 



MEI^lOIRS OP JOHN SHIPP. £03 

were not in all above twenty men, were of course obliged 
to make a precipitate retreat. In this disastrous skir- 
mish, poor Lieutenant Turrell was cut to pieces, and 
several others of the party killed and wounded. x\s the 
party which had been thus surprised was makinij the best 
of their way down the hill, we made the best of our way 
up. We were supported by our old friends, the light 
company of the :25ih Native Infantry. ^ The ascent was 
most difficult, there being only one narrow pathway, by 
which we were obhged to ascend almost one by one. 
When about half way, or three parts up, we came to a 
small flat spot, about fifty yards long, and twenty wide. 
Here our noble captain sounded the assembly. We 
could now see the enemy, like ants, creeping and lurking 
about, and busily engaged in secreting themselves behind 
trees and stones. [ presumed to i-ecommend to the cap- 
tain of the Light Company, that our forming in a body 
would bring on us a destructive fire, and that we had 
better fight them on their own system, which was, extend- 
ing, and every man availing himself of tree or stone, and 
a rest for his piece. This was sure to be attended with 
success; and, however brave a man may be, he never 
ought to be above advice. Our captain readily saw the 
danger that would attend our forming, and, therefore, 
immediately sounded the extend ; then the advance ; and 
the fighting soon became warm on both sides. The 
enemy maintainerl their ground, and fought manfully. J 
hate a runaway foe ; you have no credit for beating them. 
Those we were now deahng with were no flinchers ; but, 
on the contrary, I never saw more steadiness or more 
bravery exhibited by any set of men in my life. Run 
they would not ; and of death they see ned to have no 
fear, though their comrades were falling thick around 
them, for we were so near that every shot told. At last, 
some of their men began to give way, and as we were 
ascending rapidly, their commander, or one of their prin- 
cipal officers, attempted to rally them. Having succeeded 
in this attempt for the moment, the said officer had the 
impudence to attack and put his Majesty's liege subject, 
John Shipp, ensign on full pay, and in the full vigour of 
his life and manhood, in bodily fear, on the King's high 



§04 MEMOIRS OF JOHN SPIIi'P. 

Mil of Muck\¥anpore, on the afternooa of — — T now 
forget the date, he so frightened me. He was a strong 
powerful man, protected by two shields, one tied round 
his waist, and hanging over his thighs as low as his knees, 
and the other on the left arm, much larger than the one 
round his waist. From this gentleman there was no. 
escape ; and, fortunately for me, I had my old twenty- 
fourther with me, which I had two or three days before 
put in good shavmg order. With this I was obhged to 
act on the defensive, till I could catch my formidable 
opponent off his guard. He cut, I guarded ; he thrust, 
I parried ; until he became aggravated, and set to work 
with that impetuosity and determination, pretty generally 
onderstood by the phrase "'hammer and tongs;" in the 
course of which he nearly cut my poor twenty-fourther in 
pieces. At last I found he was winded ; but 1 could see 
oothmg of the fellow, i)ut his black face peeping above 
one shield, and his feet under the other ; so 1 thought I 
would give hith a cut five across his lower extremities ; 
but he would.not stand still a moment ; he cut as many 
capers as a French dancing-master, till I was quite out 
of patience with his folly. I did not like to quit niy man ; 
so I tried his other extremities ; but he would not stand 
still, all I could do. At length, I miade a feint at his toes, 
to cut them ; down went his shield from his face to save 
bis legs ; up went the edge of my sword smack under 
his chin ;■ — in endeavouring to get away from which, he 
threw his head back, which nearly tumbled off, and down 
he fell ; and I assure you, reader, I was not sorry for it, 
for he was a most unsociable neighbour. I don't know 
whether I had a right or not, but I took the liberty of 
taking his svvord, gold crescent, turban-chain, and large 
shield. The latter I sported on my left arm during the 
action, and it was fortunate for me that I did, for I found 
that the shield was ball- proof, and I should have been 
severely wounded, had T been deprived of this trophy. 
Our gallant captain fought like one of the old Fogs, and 
his men, as I had been told, were indeed '' divels to fight.'' 
The very noise they made would have frightened old 
Harry himself. 

The enemy fought furiously before they gave up the 



Memoirs of John shipi'. 205 

lilll ; indeed, many of them rushed upon our bayonets in 
the most reckless and desperate manner. Being at last 
compelled to give way, they took up their station on the 
adjoining hills, and in the ravines and valleys below, and 
their fire for a time was destructive. As we had now 
gained the hill, we had proceeded to the extent of our 
orders. Here reinforcements poured up to our assist- 
ance, and two six-pounders, which had been sent up 
immediately after us, now began to play with grape on 
the poor and brave fellows who had sought refuge in the 
dells below. The havoc was dreadful, for they still 
scorned to fly. During our ascent, some shells had been 
thrown by our artillery below, from some howitzers in 
front of our encampment, to the right of the ridge of the 
hill, where the enemy, in immense force, had been ob- 
served running down to the assistance of their beaten 
comrades. This reinforcement of the enemy brought 
down, to play upon our ascent, a small hill-gun, a three- 
pounder of about a yard long, which one man could carry. 
The whole of the ammunition brought by the enemy for 
this and other purposes, our shells from below reached 
and blew up, and great numbers were killed and w^ounded 
by the explosion. When their ammunition was gone. 
they rolled the little gun down the hill, where we, after 
the action, found it. Our troops having been distributed 
and posted along the range of hills, some of our men 
were killed and wounded by each other, by their cross- 
firing at random, where they heard the sound of musket?, 
but could not see the object. We frequently sounded 
'' cease firing," but to no purpose ; and, indeed, it was 
truly tantalizing to see thousands of the enemy under oisr 
very noses, and not to be allowed to fire at them ; but, 
the woods being thick and high, we were fearful of again 
drawing on ourselves the fire of our men on the opposite 
hills. Our brave colonel had arrived upon the hiil with 
tiie reinforcements which belonged to his brigade, and, 
fearing the same evil, he sounded repeatedly the "• cease 
firing," but here and there some shots were still fired by 
the Native troops. When he came to his Light Company* 
I could see the beam of delight in the veteran's eye ; but 
.that was no time for compliments. He desired us to cut 
Vol. L— 18 



206 MEMOIRS OF JOHN SIIIPP. 

the first man down who presumed to disobey his often- 
repeated order of " cease firing ;" and he toid us to lie 
down, and on no account to attempt to proceed. At 
this moment, one of the enemy, who had been annoying 
us from a thicket some thirty paces from where I stood, 
not stomaching the grape, made a movement from his 
hiding-place. One of our company, seeing so good an 
^opportunity, was not to be restramed ; he fired, and 
killed his man. The colonel had nothing but a walking- 
stick in his hand. Whether he thought it was his sword or 
not, I cannot say ; but he immediately ran at the man 
and struck him across the nose, (in which, by-the-by, 
nature had been very bountiful to this individual,) ex- 
claiming at the same time, — "• You rascal ! I have a great 
mind to have you shot this moment for this'pointed diso- 
bedience of my orders." At this moment, seeing the 
enemy, who had secreted themselves in the underwood, 
ierretted out by our shells, and running off, some of our 
fellows must, if they died for it, have a shot. This exas- 
perated our little colonel beyond bounds. He was a 
little lion when roused. He immediately selected one of 
the men of the Light Company of the 25th Regiment, 
and ordered him to be shot, which would certainly have 
been done, had not the adjutant-general of the forces at 
that time joined the colonel with orders. By this the 
colonel's attention was drawn off*, and he ran off towards 
the right. The man, seeing this, ran towards the left, 
and thus escaped the punishment he justly deserved. 
Prompt and implicit obedience is one of the grand prin- 
ciples of military discipline ; and any officer would have 
been justifiable in shooting, or cutting down, any such 
disobedient soldier. Any breach of orders I would at all 
4imes punish with a great and heavy penalty. Encourage 
this, and there is an end to military obedience and disci- 
pline at once. The soldier who was struck on this occa- 
sion was sensible of the enormity of his crime, and there- 
fore quietly pocketed the more lenient penalty and the 
countermarch his nose had made towards his cheek, and 
thought himself fortunate that he had not been deprived 
of his life. 

Nought was now heard but the roaring of the two six- 



MEMOIRS OF JOHN SHIPP. 20t 

|)Ounders and the whistling of shells. The dying and the 
wounded lay in masses in the dells and ravines below. In 
our own company we had, I thmk, eleven killed and 
twenty wounded, our total number being eighty only. I 
do repeat again, I never saw such soldiers. I began to 
think myself, in comparison with them, but yet a novice. 
When the evening began to spread her mantle over 
the dreary scene, the sombre appearance of the lowering 
sky seemed to mourn, and put on a garb of black, to shield 
from human eye the ghastly sight below. As long as it 
was light, we could plainly see the last struggles of the 
dying. Some poor fellows could be seen raising their 
knees up to their chins, and then flinging them down with 
all their might. Some attempted to rise, but failed in the 
attempt. One poor fellow I saw get on his legs, put his 
hand to his bleeding head, then fall, and roll down the 
hill, to rise no more. This was the scene that the even- 
ing now closed upon. Reader, beheve me when I as- 
sure you, that these results of war were no sights of exul- 
tation or triumph to the soldiers who witnessed them. 
Willingly w^ould we one and all have extended the hand 
of aid to them, and dressed their gaping wounds. No 
brave man will ever exult over a bleeding and wounded 
enemy. The weapon of destruction is no sooner out of 
his hands, than he is our prisoner, but not our foe. The 
sympathetic expressions that fell from the lips of our brave 
soldiers, an witnessing these sights, would have done credit 
to any set of men. 

The dark clouds omened a coming storm. I have 
been told that any particular noise in mountainous coun- 
tries (more particularly the roaring of cannon,) will bring 
the clouds down from above, and that rain will follow : 
and I once heard a gentleman account for it in this way. 
He said that all dark and thick-looking clouds might be 
reservoirs of water ; that any convulsion would bring 
them down ; and, that, when at a certain distance from 
the earth, the earth's attractive power would draw the 
rain from them, and, when lightened of this burden, the 
clouds would again rise. How far this may be the case, 
I know not. 1 can only say that, if convulsion could 
dause rain, there was convulsion enough, for the roaring 



203 MEMOIRS OF JOHN SHIPI\ 

of the cannon kept up one continued re-echo. The 
evening- closed in pitchy darkness. 

The pioneers had been sent up, and we commenced 
intrenching and stockading the hill round the huts, which 
were in number about twenty. Some refreshments had 
at this time come up, both for officers and men. After 
partaking of some food, it was resolved between my cap- 
tain and me, that we should watch four hours round, and 
that he should commence the first four. He accordingly 
went to post his men, and I took possession, with several 
men, of a small hut full of good straw, on which I lay 
dow^n to repose. Scarcely had I closed my eye in balmy 
sleep, when I heard the unwelcome vociferation, — " Pass 
the word for Lieutenant Shipp ; pass the word for Mr. 
Shipp ; send Mr. Shipp to me." It was the colonel's 
voice that I heard ; so, jumping from my straw, I ex- 
claimed, — " Here I am, colonel ; here am I, sir." — 
" That's right," said the colonel, " 1 want you to go on 
duty." He then took me by the hand, and said, ''•Shipp, 
you have verified the recommendations I received from 
your late commanding officer of the 24th Light Dragoons, 
and I shall not lose sight of your conduct. From the in- 
formation our spies have brought, we have every reason 
to believe that the enemy will, under the darkness of the 
night, make an efl^ort to regain their lost post, which i& 
of much consequence to tliem and more to us. We must, 
therefore, prepare to meet them with determined force 
and resistance, or we shall have all our work to do over 
again. You must take a steady sergeant and twelve men, 
and proceed down close to the reservoir of water. Or 
this side of the reservoir take up your station. Let your 
sentinels form a link with the other sentinels on your 
right and left ; and by no means permit your men to lie 
down or sleep, but see that they watch, and are on the 
alert. Go ; I know I need not explain more to you. 
Tour captain I have posted in a similar situation." The 
rain now fell in torrents ; the thunder rolled in its bitterest 
anger ; and the lightning shot in massive sheets along 
the mountain-tops, and, by its vivid blaze, showed us a 
gfimpse of the dead and the dying. 1 found that, close toE 
my post, lay numbers whom 1 believed dead • but I after-. 



MEMOIRS OF Jt)HN SHIP?. 209 

ward distinctly heard ; during the cessation of the thunder, 
the moaning of those below. I don 't know any situa- 
tion more painful than mine was at that moment ; a tempest 
raging in all its terrific forms ; surrounded by the dead and 
the dying ; and expecting every moment to be attacked by a 
cruel and barbarous foe, from whom no mercy could be 
expected, should fate throw us into their hands. Nothing 
but a sense of duty, and the recollection that I was en- 
gaged in the service of my country, could have supported 
me under such circumstances. A high sense of the duties, 
and an ardent attachment to the profession of a soldier, 
will enable a man to do that, with comparative cheerful- 
ness, from which, under other circumstances, his feelings 
would revolt. The enemy were noted for barbarity and 
craft, and the danger of surprise was great. 

Upon the principle that all stratagems are justifiable in 
warfare as well as in love, a ready excuse may be found 
for the craft and cunning exercised by this or any other 
tribe in their own defence ; and it is impossible to look 
even upon the cruelties practised by them, with any other 
than an eye of pity and commiseration. They are taught 
from their infancy the art of war ; they fight under the 
banner of gloomy superstition ; cruelty is their creed : 
and murder of their foes the zenith of their glory. Let 
us not, therefore, condemn too severely these untaught 
babes of idolatry. 

Notwithstanding my dismal forebodings, and the dan- 
gerous position which we occupied, the night passed off 
quietly enough. Towards morning the rain ceased, and 
the sun rose in all his splendour and majesty ; but the 
scene of death below marred and defiled the more distant 
prospect, which was magnificent beyond description. 
The piquets fi-om below were withdrawn after daylight. 
On going round the hill afterward, the dead bodies there 
astonished me. It was scarcely possible to walk without 
stepping on them. 1 could not have imagined that the 
one-twentieth part had fallen ; but, as I have before said, 
self, in action, is the grand and primary object of man's 
regard. I paid a visit to the dead body of my antagonist 
of the preceding day. I found that his head hung only 
by the skin of his neck. He had also a cut in the abdomen, 
1^* 



:?1;0 i^EMOlKS OF johk shipp. 

through which the bowels protruded. I found that m 
addition to this, he had received a ball in the fleshy part 
of the thigh ; but whether he got this before or after the 
fall, I do not pretend to say, but I should imagine before, 
from the direction of the ball. He was a fine-looking 
man, and was dressed in a full general's uniform, the 
same as that worn by our English generals twenty years 
ago, with the old frog lace, both on the skirts and sleeves, 
but without epaulettes. When engaged with him, I 
never dared take my eye off his. Had I not been tho- 
roughly practised in the sword exercise, 1 must soon have 
fallen, for he was a very expert swordsman. In a letter^ 
addressed to me afterward, by Captain Pickersgill, quar- 
ter-master-general of the army, I was congratulated on 
the fall of that distinguished sohah^ or chieftain. His 
name, the quarter- master- general stated, was Khissna 
Rhannah Babader, and that he was the identical officer 
who had planned and executed the massacre at Summan- 
pore and Persah, the season before, as related by nie at 
page 176. The letter went on to state that he was a grea4 
loss to the Nepaul government, and it was the opinion of 
the quarter-master-general as well as of Sir David Ochter*- 
lony, that the death of this sobah contributed greatly to 
turn the current of affairs in the Nepaul campaign. 

Our next object was to commit the poor fellows wh© 
were killed, to the grave, for which purpose an enormous 
working- party Yf^s employed to bury the dead, and take the 
wounded to our hospitals. In -two days, eleven hundred 
were committed to the grave, having almost one general 
tomb; and it would have much edified those babblers who rail 

* The letter here spoken of, I did not receive until about six months 
after my personal conflict with the sobah on the hill of Muckwanpore. 
In proceeding from Gazapore to Dinapore, some years afterward (I 
believe in 1824,) my baggage-boat, and this document (with many other 
testimonials which I had received from distinguished officers under whom 
I had servtd) was lost. Captain Pickersgill, unfortunately for me, as 
for himself, had died before I experienced this loss ; but. 1 have every 
reason to believe that a copy of the document may st^ll be found among 
the Memoirs of the GoM-kah war, left by that officer, and I believe in the 
possession of his brother, Captain Pickergsill, of the Company's service. 
In the Appendix at the end of the second volume of this work, will be found 
in official certificate from Major Watson, who was .«i3sistat)t adjutant- 
general of the forces, attesting the fact of the fall of the sobah by my hand. 



MEMOIRS OF JOHN SHIPF. 211' 

SO much against soldier's cruelties and vices, to have seen 
the tear of compassion trickling down the cheeks of both 
Natives and Europeans on this occasion. Having per- 
formed our sad duty, we were reheved at mid-day, and 
returned to the lines, amidst the greetings of our comrades 
at the foot of the hill. The orders of the day were flatter- 
ing and complimentary to all engaged. These were little 
trophies gained that no man could rob or cheat us of. 
Having washed and dressed myself, I went to the hospital 
to visit both my friends and those that had been, a short 
day before, my mortal enemies. It had been a considera- 
ble time before bur wounded men could be removed from 
the hill, and then the bringing them down so shook them, 
that, in many cases, inflammation had taken place. Some 
of these poor suffering fellows seemed to endure the most 
excruciating pangs. Every comfort that hberality could 
purchase was afforded to the sufferers, and it gladdened my 
heart when I went into the tents of tiie wounded of the 
enemy, to see some of our Native soldiers on their knees, 
waiting on and administering comforts to them, while others 
were whispering sweet words of consolation into their at- 
tentive ears, which were the more necessary, as some of 
these poor creatures had an idea that their lives were only 
prolonged for a more cruel and lingering death. An am- 
putation had been thought necessary on the leg of one of 
the Native enemy. This he submitted to almost without 
a struggle. When his leg was off" and the stump dressed, 
it confirmed him in what he had been taught from his in- 
fancy, that all white men were almost cannibals, and he 
asked one of his friends who was lying by him (one of 
his countrymen), "When he thought they would take the 
other leg off"; as, if he thought it would be long, he would 
destroy himself." This being understood by one of the 
hospital attendants, to ease his mind,- it was thought pro- 
per to explain to him that the act was one of kindness,' 
not of cruelty, and done to save bis life. For this purpose 
one of his countrymen (a spy of ours) was sent for ; hut 
nothing but the sight of the same operation performed on 
one of our Native men could appease and satisfy him. 
After having witnessed this, he became calm, and felt sa- 
tisfied, that we were not such barbarians as he had beeT> 



212 MEMOIBS^ OF JOHN SHIPP. 

taught to suppose. Our humane general had directed 
that men of the same caste should attend the wounded 
prisoners of war, and volunteers in abundance came for- 
ward for this benevolent purpose. It was truly a pleasura- 
ble and delightful sight to witness those who, but a short 
day before, had fought hard in the bitterest rancour of 
their souls, now interchanging the most affectionate civili- 
ties. 

I have, in the hurry of my narrative, forgotten a circum- 
stance which reflects honour on the soldier whom it con- 
cerns. When on the top of the hill where the action 
raged most, one of the enemy showed himself most con- 
spicuously, fighting like a hero. He had just shot one of 
our men close by where 1 stood, when I made towards 
him, with a man of the name of Quanbury. Finding that 
he was receding from us, and again loading, the soldier 
next me fired, and the man fell upon his knees. Quanbury 
immediately ran up to him (for he still grasped his fire- 
lock), and was in the act of running him through, when 
the man threw down his arms. Seeing this, the brave 
Irish soldier stayed his finishing blow, exclaiming, " By 
the powers, my fine fellow, but it was well you were after 
doing that self-same thing ; for had you shot me as yoo 
did that other man, bad luck to me if I wouldn't have 
blown your brains out, so I would." Here the quarter- 
master-general came up and took charge of his prisoner, 
and we passed on to clear the hill of others who were 
Iteeping up a heavy fire. 



CHAPTER XVr. 

We were still obliged to carry on our approaches with 
all possible vigilance and activity ; and our discipline was 
not relaxed in the shghtest particular. We were com- 
pelled to watch the enemy with a jealous eye, not allowing 
our late little victory to feed our vanity, or to seduce us 
from our wonted caution. Every eye was now fixed on 



MEMOIRS OF JOHN SHIPP. 2 IS 

the hill which was in front of our head- approach, and 
various and ludicrous were the reports and opinions, 
during the day and night, of the nvovements on the said 
hill. Fallen trees were magnified into guns and mortars ; 
variegated bushes into soldiers ; the light between the 
trees into flags ; and the midnight ignis fatuus^ on its 
nocturnal rambles, into torches and lights of the enemy. 
The rustling leaves, falling down the wintry glen, were 
construed into the coming foe ; and, had one of our cap- 
tains been the commander-in-chief, the hill would have 
been treeless and leafless, for he would have blown them 
all up instead of the enemy. The glass was never from 
this gentleman's eye. Could his thoughts and speculations 
by day and night have been committed to paper, his words 
would have shone forth in all the radiance of a military 
vocabulary. What shells would he not have expended 
upon the poor ignis fatuus ! All we could do or say, he 
would not believe us. If he had been our general, we 
should have been in Khatmandoo, the capital of Nepaul, 
in half the time. His system was new and wonderful ; for. 
when arguing on the best plan to be adopted, he had always 
the most happy knack of catching the enemy asleep. But 
in these notions he happened to have mistaken his men. 
The Nepaulese soldiers never sleep, or, rather, such is their 
watchfulness, that you can never surprise them ; this mis- 
conception of their character would have led him wrong 
as often as the ignis fatuus. It is quite preposterous to 
hear some men boasting of what they would do if they had 
the command. Soldiers are not to judge of the actions of 
their superiors, but implicitly to obey any orders that may 
be communicated to them. It is certain, at least, we have 
no right to promulgate our opinions, to the prejudice of 
others. I longed for an opportunity of seeing this kill- 
devil of a captain well tried as a soldier ; for, if he killed 
people as fast by the sword as he did by the tongue, two 
companies of such men would clear the universe, asleep 
or awake. However, I never had my wish gratified in 
this respect, though I do not despair that I may hear of 
some of his brilliant exploits when he is general, for his 
merit surely cannot be long before it reach the throne. 
While we were parading the company in the evenings 



214 MEMOIRS OF JOHN SHIPP. 

the captain observed a man looking extremely ill, and 
asked him what was the matter with him : " Nothing at 
all, your honour, only a little scratch one of them spalpeens 
gave me on the hill yesterday ; but, sure, it 's nothing 
worth while talking about. " As the surgeon was standing 
near the parade, he was sent for, and the man went into 
a tent to show his scratch, as he called it, when it was 
found that the ball had carried away the point of his lower 
rib, and, the wound having been neglected, the surgeon 
expressed some doubts as to whether the ball was still in 
or not, when the soldier replied, "I, beg your pardon^ 
that 's a great big mistake, for here it is," (pulling it out 
of his pocket) " beat as flat as a crown-piece." He was 
then ordered to the hospital, but was almost obliged to be 
dragged there^ for he bellowed out, *' Arrab, captain, 
honey, are you going to send me to the hospital before I 
get satisfaction and revenge for this wound ?" He was. 
of course, obliged to go, and he got better ; but, during 
the campaign against the Nepaulese, he never had the 
satisfaction he required. 

The following day I went on outline piquet, on a small 
hill about half a mile from the right of the camp. This 
was, strictly speaking, a piquet or post of observation, as, 
immediately behind it, was a small foot pathway from the 
hilj, which our advanced post had not yet reached. It was, 
therefore, requisite to guard the mouth of this little path- 
way with great care. 

1 believe it was when on this service that I had occasion 
to notice an instance of sagacity in a dog, that may be 
deemed worthy of being recorded. 

In passing the sentinels, I found it necessary to ad- 
monish one of them for not challenging in a louder voice. 
To my astonishment, the excuse which the man made was- 
that he was afraid of waking a faithful dog of his, that was 
asleep under a bush just by. 

" What!" said 1, " then I suppose you sometimes take 
nap about with this faithful animal." 
•' ^' Why, yes," said the man, innocently, "sometimes, 
sir ; and, to say truth, I have but five minutes ago relieved 
h\m from his post." 

"Yery candid, truly," said I ; " but are you not aware. 



MEMOIKS GF JOHN SHIPP. 215 

my good fellow, that you could be shot for sleeping on 
your post ?" 

The sentinel aduiitted that he knew well the conse- 
quences to which he would be subjected by so doing ; but 
notwithstanding this, he asserted that he could thoroughly 
confide in his faithful companion, who, on the slightest 
noise, would jump upon him, and awake him. 

On further inquiry, I learnt that this sagacious and 
faithful creature would regularly, when his master was on 
watch, stand his hour and walk his round ; that, in very 
dark nights, he would even put his ear to the ground, and 
listen ; and that, during the period assigned to him as his 
turn to watch, he would never venture to lie down, but 
would steadily and slowly walk his round, which nothing 
could induce him to leave, such was his opinion of the 
nature-and responsibility of his post- The man added, 
that he once gave him to an officer of the Company's 
service, who took him from the station where he was 
(Meerut), to Loodianna, a distance of four hundred miles, 
and that, the moment the officer let him loose, he returned 
to his old master, having performed that great distance in 
two days and a half That he was on the main-guard the 
night he returned, and he was awoke by the dog licking 
his face. It appeared that he had been through the bar- 
rack, and visited every sleeping soldier on their separate 
cots, until he found his master. The man related several 
anecdotes of this animal : among the rest, he said he was 
one day out drinking toddy, some miles from camp, and 
from the intoxicating effect, and the extreme heat of the 
liquor, he went to sleep. On awaking, he found his 
clothes torn in several places, and that he had been dragged 
more than three yards from the bush under which he had 
lain down ; but what was his astonishment, on getting up, 
to find a large snake almost torn to pieces, no doubt by 
his faithful guard 1 He was a powerful dog, — a kind 
of Persian-hill greyhound, that would kill a wolf single- 
handed. 

On the following day we opened our batteries on some 
stockades on the face of the hill intervening between us 
and the fort of Muckwanpore. The first stockade that we 
proposed to dislodge, was one about eight hundred or a 



216 MEMOIRS OF JOHN SHIPF. 

thousand yards from our battery. We could not approach 
nearer than this, as a deep and enormous declivity lay be- 
tween us. This being the case, we were under the neces- 
sity of commencing at this great distance. The stockade 
seemed alive with men. There was also a tent pitched in 
it, with several colours flying, in token of defiance. Some 
dozen shells, which were beautifully thrown into this stock- 
ade, put some of them to double-quick ; the tent soon dis- 
appeared, as well as the colours, and most of the men, 
save now and then one or two taking a sly peep to see 
what we were about. The eighteen and twenty-four pound 
balls, however, I am convinced, never had power to pene- 
trate that little edifice of art. It was evidently built of 
green bamboos. These, when green, are very elastic, and 
being interwoven, as this stockade seemed to be, there is 
no question that, at the distance from which we fired, they 
would resist the power of our balls. We frequently saw 
men running and picking up something, a hundred yards 
or more from the place. We could not suppose that they 
were picking up stones. 

In the course of this day we received a communication 
to admit into camp a Native from the fort, with his attend- 
ants, six in number. '* Halloa," said one, '' what! they 
have had a sickener, have they ?" — ^'^Fhey have had 
enough on't," said another. A soldier standing near me 
bellowed out, '' Arrah, Corporal Freeman, dear, sure the 
enemy have got the Corporal Forbes," (meaning the cho- 
lera morbus,) " for the Rajah is coming to take ta with 
Sir David Maloney," (this was what our men had chris- 
tened him, I suppose to make his name shorter). Various . 
were the reports in circulation, and every one had his own 
opinion. Here again the glass of the noble captain, of 
whom I have already made honourable mention, wascon-f 
stantly at his eye, looking for this messenger of peace. 
Sometimes he saw him on horseback ; then in his palan- 
quin, attended by one hundred followers. " If he was the 
commander-in-chief, he would not permit one of them to 
come within a mile of the camp, armed." One time he 
saw the Rajah riding on a milk-white steed on the hill ; 
but this procession, unfortunately, proved to be no other 
than little white clouds riding in the skv. Ten thousand 



MEMOIRS OF JOHN SHIPP. ^H 

were the methods and styles in which this messenger wa& 
to make his appearance, and not one was right, for he 
arrived carried in something like a sailor's hammock, with 
one follower. He was a dirty, ill-looking, thick-set fel- 
low, with small eyes, wide fac«, and a low forehead. In 
spite of these disadvantages of person, however, he as- 
sumed all the consequence of a nabob; but When we 
commenced examining his hamaiock and person, to see 
that he had no hidden weapon, his ambassadorship was 
highly offended, and protested that, to use his own words, 
*' He would not permit his holy person (for he wa»« a priest) 
to be polluted or defiled bv the contaminaung touch of a 
Christian." He added, that *' he was a high priest, and 
that, rather than submit to such debasement, he would 
return to his Rajah, and inform him of the prodigious in- 
dign scrutiny of his holy person." He was soon informed^ 
that if he did not submit to the required forms and rules 
of the East, he of course might return to his master, and 
tell him what he pleased. He was getting into his ham- 
mock f)r this purpose, when his hohness thought better 
of it, and said, '^ Well, you may examine" While I 
searched his ponderous cumerbund (a long cloth that was 
woimd round .:is waist), he endeavoured to avoid my 
touch, by cringing from me, as he would from the lie of 
a serpeT>t ; but I gave his holiness such a twist round, 
that ii' 'Ought he would never have stopped. Upon this 
his eye darted vivid flashes of fire ; \ saw him clench his 
fists with rage ; he foamed from the sides of his mouth ; 
and at one time I really thought that the holy personage 
was about to forget his hohness, and comirig to the 
scratch. Having no secreted weapon upon him, he was 
permitted to pass, but it was a very necessary precaution 
to examine such a fellow strictly, for he was a Goorkah, 
or bastard Tartar, a race pre eminently bloodthirsty and 
cruel, and of the same sect with those who coaimitted 
such wanton cruelties on the poor unfortunate spy at At- 
toondah. In obedience to our instructions, we passed him 
into camp, and in about an hour he returned, his sallow 
face contracted and distorted with all the rage and malice 
that can make the human features terrific. He passed on 
in sullen silence, in his heart vowing vengeance, as he had 
VoL.L—19 



'318 MEMOIRS OP JOHN SHIPr. 

no doubt been unsuccessful in his embassy. His sudderA 
exit, and obvious displeasure, indicated a renewal of hos- 
tilities ; at least so said the all-wise captain, who was the 
very fountain of information, axomplete reservoir of the 
pure stream of knowledge, at least as far as his own 
opinion went. 

Notwithstanding this sage prediction, however, two 
more days passed away, when another ambassador came 
into camp ; — if not so holy as the former, certainly more 
like a statesman. This second messenger remained a 
considerable time in deep and secret conversation with 
our noble general, who could see as far as most folks, 
although the service had deprived him of one eye. At 
last he left, his eye beaming delight. He smiled and 
bowed as he passed, and we, one and all, immediately 
flew to the sure channel of information. His opinion was 
peace ; and, for once during the captain's campaigns, he 
was right, for, the day following, the firing from our bat- 
teries ceased, and the uncle to the then reigning Rajah 
(who was regent) was expected in camp. Every eye was 
on the lookout for this great personage, and various were 
the opinions of the anxious multitude, and they were as 
ridiculous as they were varied. The wise captain was not 
idle, either with his glass or his tongue. , To do honour 
to the reception of such a personage, the two flank com- 
panies of the 87th Regiment, and the two flank companies 
of the 25th Native hifantry, formed a street to the gene- 
ral's tent, where every preparation was made to receive 
our visiter as regent, and nncle to the reigning Kajah, who 
was a boy. Having waited some hours after the time, 
Sir David began to get nettled, and was in the act of 
withdrawing the troops and setting our batteries to work, 
when the shrill sound of the war-trumpet, and the roll of 
the war-drum, were heard, which were signals that the 
regent was on the move. Shortly afterward we saw him 
descending the hill in a superb palanquin, attended by 
about twenty armed men on foot. At the end of the 
street he was met by the adjutant-general, quarter- master- 
general, and several other staff'-officers ; and, after a little 
hugging, they led him on, taking his hands in theirs in 
token of friendship. Thus they proceeded to the gene- 



MEMOIRS OF JOHN SHIPP, 219 

raPs splendid tent, the street presenting arras, which he 
perfectly understood, and to which he howed in return in 
a most majestic manner. I do not think that in the course 
of my service I ever beheld a more noble and venerable- 
looking man. He was most superbly dressed, with num- 
berless dag-gers stuck in his cumerbund, and a sword by 
his side that seemed studded with diamonds and precious 
stones. His neck, turban, and hands were one mass ot 
jewels. Our brave general met him at the door of his 
tent, when the greeting was most laughable ; something 
like that of Doodle and Noodle, in Tom Thun^b. The 
manners of our visiter were those of a perfect courtier ; 
but he was free, affable, and jocular. !n two hours after 
the customary sprinkling of scents, the treaty of peace 
was ratified, and he returned towards home with pleasure 
in his eye. Here the wise captain ran about, delighted 
and delighting, saying, — '' Did 1 not tell you so ? I knew 
it — I could not be deceived — the thing was plain. People 
must have been blind not to have foreseen this event." 

Thus ended the fighting against the Nepaulese, this 
having been the second campaign in what is called the 
Goorkah war. It was a fortuate thing for all hands that 
hostilities were thus terminated, for some seventy men oi 
the 87th Regiment had that morning gone to hospital 
with the dysentery, a complaint that was raging with great 
violence, from the damp situation of the valley and the 
thick fogs that lodged there till nearly mid day. Guns 
were ordered down, and we began to prepare for quarters. 
None were sorry for it, for already were our toes playing 
at hide and seek through our boots, and our wardrobes 
were much the worse for wear. We were given to un- 
derstand, from the quarter-master-general, that the post 
which we took had been vacated by the enemy's troops, 
without orders, and that they were sent back reinforced 
to retake and keep it, in which attempt, if they did not 
succeed, their heads were to be the forfeit. This ac- 
counts for the desperate manner in which they fought and 
struggled to keep the post. 

Having vacated the hill, and our enemies having now 
become our friends, — for many of them had ajready come 
down into camp for the purpose of purchasing articles in 



-20 • MEMOIRS OP JOHN SHITP. 

our bazaars,— some three or four of us made a party to 
visit the fort and stockades ; for which purpose we started 
after breakfast, and reached their advanced outpost. 
Here we were stopped, and informed that we^jould not 
be permitted to proceed any farther, without the permis- 
sion of the keeiedar, or governor of the fort; but that, if 
we would wait, a man should be sent to ask if we might 
advance. To this we consented, and, in about half an 
hour after, the man who had been sent on this errand came 
back, with two other men, and said the keeiedar had been 
pleased to grant us permission to go, but that we must go 
unarmed, leaving our swords in the last stockade. The 
ascent of the hill towards the fort was extremely difficult; 
and at every turning of the road was a strong stockade 
with guns, so that our necessary loss in taking these hills 
and posts must have been enormous, for there was scarcely 
any footing. 

We at last reached. the grand fort of Muckwanpore, if 
it deserved the name. It was built of stone and brick, 
and was very high ; but a dozen shots from our twenty- 
four-pounders would have levelled it with the ground. 
Indeed, one bastion had given warning of its intending to 
stand no longer. The tempests that rage in these hills 
had shaken its foundation. The gate was strong, but its 
hinges were small. On our entering, a small guard at the 
gate presented arms, a drummer beat the grenadiers' 
march, and a little fifer played the tune. Both the drum 
and the fife were of English manufacture. A little far- 
ther was the tent we had seen in the stockade, at least 
some part of it. It was riddled like a sieve with our 
shells, and the top of it was hanging in ribbons. Here 
WG were introduced to the governor, who was seated on 
a greasy cushion, the pillows of which, though they had 
once been white, were now the colour of his face. He 
received us cordially, and shook hands with us most 
heartily ; and he was really a very jolly old fellow, some 
twenty or twenty-three stone, his fat sides hanging in large 
flaps over his hips, which we sometimes made shake 
again with laughter. He paid us many compliments 
about our fighting and system of warfare, and wanted to 
know how many thousands we had had killed. When we 



MEMOIKS OP JOHN SHIPP. 221 

assured him that we had not lost more than forty,. he 
laughed heartily, and said we meant forty hundred, for they 
had lost more than that. We spent a pleasant hour with 
this fat governor, who, after w^e had looked round the fort, 
had the politeness to parade his regiment for our inspec- 
. tion. I never saw a finer body of men in my life. They 
were as well armed, and as well equipped in every respect, 
as our INative troops. After this we returned to camp, 
and the following morning marched towards cantonments. 

As all treaties contracted in India, between Native and 
European powers, are ever to be held with a jealous and 
watchful eye (for nought but time can make them valid), 
is was necessary for us to take up a position to watch the 
proceedings of our new friends. Under the cloak of 
friendship, some of the most barbarous massacres have 
been perpetrated ; and treaties have been frequently signed 
and sealed, and, ere the signature was dry, the enemy 
have commenced infringing on their contracts and sacred 
ties. It has ever been known that, during iue time oc- 
cupied by the parley necessary for completing such nego- 
tiations, the enemy have been busily engaged in making 
preparations to strike a more effectual blow. It was but 
prudent, therefore, that we should keep our eye upon 
them. In accordance with one of the covenants of the 
treaty, a British resident, and the usual escort, were to 
remain at the capital. This escort marched, on the same 
day we did, to Khatmandoo. Our march was through 
the pass of Cheriagotte, where the mad-brained young 
officers wanted to force an entrance. My discription of 
this pass, as I proceed, will prove how fatal and contrary 
to the dictates of reason would have been any such attempt, 

I was on the rear-guard the morning we left the valley 
of Muckwanpore. The enemy (or, perhaps, i should say 
our friends) flocked in great numbers, to bid us farewell, 
or see us depart. The whole of the baggage was nearly 
gone, when a number of these soldiers gathered round the 
guard, asking ail manner of questions. A most respecta- 
ble-looking young man, wearing the dress of an oScer, 
came up to me and said, — " Were you not in the actioC; 
on the hill of Muckwanpore ?" 

I told him that I had had that honour, 
19'^ 



222 MEMOIRS OP JOHN 6HIPPa 

He replied, — " So v/as I ; and I fired three shots at 
you from behind a tree, — are you not wounded ?" 

I replied,— '' No." 

"Well," said he, " 1 never missed my man before in 
my life." 

I asked him at what period of the action it was that he 
aimed at me. « 

" When you were fighting with Sobah Khissna Rhan- 
nab," replied he. 

" You were not far from your man, then," said I, " for 
one of your shots struck the peak of my cap." 

At this he laughed. He afterward complimented me 
on my swordsmanship, and said that few could touch the 
sobah in that exercise. He then asked to look at one of 
my men's muskets, and he put himself through the manual 
and platoon exercises, giving himself the word of com- 
mand in English. I never saw motions more clean or 
more compactly executed. I asked him where he learned 
English and the English modes of drill. He replied,— 
" From Browne," who was a deserter from the Company's 
European Regiment. He added, that a man of the name 
of Bell, a deserter from the Company's Foot Artillery, had 
also taught him his exercise, and Browne had instructed 
him in Enghsh. The former, he said, had been made 
colonel of Artillery, and the latter schoolmaster ; but they 
had both been discharged from the service at the com- 
mencement of the war. 

At last we moved off, the young stranger shaking me 
heartily by the hand, and saying,—" f love a brave soldier : 
and the white men are all brave," This young man, it 
appeared, was the adjutant of the corps of wiiich Khissna 
Khannah, who fell under my fortunate sabre, was colonel. 

Our first march was tolerably easy, as it lay under a 
winding hill, and we reached nearly the top of the pass, 
and encamped. On the following morning, we despatched 
our things very early, to prevent their falling into the hands 
of the people, should they attempt to prove treacherous 
(which was not at all improbable) after we had descended 
the ghauts. When under the base of the hill, the road, 
which had been before wide and tolerably good, narrowed 
offj and we soon found ourselves sinking down between. 



MEMOIRS OF JOHN SlIIPP, 22o 

two enormous hills. The road was scarcely wide enough, 
in sorrne places, to admit an elephant with his load to pass. 
On each side of this terrific hill, were huge rocks and 
stones piled up for our destruction. Some, of enormous 
size, the least touch would have precipitated upon our 
heads, and they seemed to have been rolled to the brink 
for that purpose. There were stockades upon stockades, 
all looking on and commandmg this little and narrow ex- 
cavated pathway. Had we once entered, as 1 have before 
mentioned was suggested by some rash-brained young 
officers, not a soul couJd have escaped destruction. I 
should think that, in the middle of this ghaut, the perpen- 
dicular rock on each side must have been five hundred 
feet high ; and therefore, had there been no other weapons 
of destruction than the ponderous masses of rock and 
stone which they could have hurled upon us, our annihila- 
tion must have been inevitable, for escape was impossible. 
When we reached the other side, the eye was met by 
stockades, fortified hills in all directions, and strong breast- 
works thrown across the roadway, which was here some- 
what wider ; though our road all along was, in fact, nothing 
more than the bed of a river, surrounded and commanded 
by numberless httle fortified sugar-loaf hilis. These the 
foe had been obhged to ascend by means of ladders. To 
complete the destruction these hills must have dealt upon 
us, they had poisoned a stream of water, either previous 
to our march from the ravine vsome ten days before, or 
since the treaty of peace was signed ; but this was timely 
detected. The poisonous grass I have before alluded to, 
had been sunk in a kind of basin, which was constantly 
replenished by water that fell from the rocks behind it. 
This might be about twenty yards round, and two deep. 
On the morning of our rpturn, an elephant, belonging to 
Lieutenant-Colonel Rose, of the Company's army, as also 
a horse belonging to that officer, had preceded the army, 
and even the baggage. The elephant got his fore feet in 
the water, of which he drank a little, but seemed not to 
rehsh it. The horse could not be induced to drink much, 
nor would the elephant again touch it. When urged by 
liis keeper, such was his perverseness, that the driver de-- 
-scended, and^ on looking at the water, he saw a yellowish 



;^£4 MEilOIES or JOH^" 2liIPl- = 

colour rising to the surface, which was caused by the 
pressure of the elephant's feet on the grass. The keeper 
immediately introduced his hand, and pulled out the 
poisonous herb. This occurrence was without delay 
communicated to our gallant commander, and never shall 
I forget his indignation and displeasure at this intelligence. 
The fact being ascertained by the medical department, 
and both the elephant and horse dying shortly afterward, 
Sir David peremptorily called upon the Nepaul govern- 
ment for satisfaction for this diabolical attempt to poison 
his army ; but they denied all knowledge of such a base 
transaction, protesting that the heads of the offenders 
should be the penalty, if they could discover the authors 
<jf such a scheme, which they affected to suppose must 
be the act of some individual who had sustained injury by 
the war. They promised that a most strict inquiry should 
be set on foot, and that the result should be made known 
to our government. Here, 1 believe, the business ended ; 
at least, we heard no more of it. A guard was, after this 
discovery, placed on the poisoned water, to prevent any 
of the cattle that followed from drinking it ; and the basin 
was afterward filled up by our pioneers, as an effectual 
remedy to prevent any other travellers that might be jour- 
neying that way from becoming its victims. 

Nothing worth narrating happened dursng our march to 
our new place of encampment, or where a temporary 
cantonment was to be erected ; save that we went to visit 
the still exposed bones of those poor creatures who were 
murdered at Summanpore and Persah. Skulls, and \\ hole 
bodies, were here to be seen in all directions, and scarcely 
a tree that had not fifty shots in it. We dropped a tear 
to the memory of the poor fellows who had here fallen, 
and committed their fleshless bones to the earth. 

Having arrived at our new place of encampment, we 
found that some temporary barracks had been erected 
there, for two regiments, the year before. The site of 
our new cantonment was marked out. It was on the 
banks of a beautiful lake, well stocked with fish and wild 
fowl. Here evr^ry (.ne commenced building his hut, not 
knowing the rnumeni we might be called upon to recom- 
mence the campaign ; for breach of treatieSj with such 



MEMOIKS OF JOHN Sllll'i'. 225 

people, was an every-day occurrence. From the long and 
uninterrupted friendship which has now subsisted between 
the two nations, we may, 1 think, with fairness conclude; 
that first impressions are the most durable ; and, if in my 
power, I would take especial care not to run the risk of a 
failure at the beginning of a campaign. An effectual 
blow then, makes the enemy shy and tame ; and the com- 
plete victory gained over the Nepaulese, at Muckwan- 
pore, beat them into principles they never knew before, 
They are, however, still tenacious of admitting strangers 
into their country, and it is with difficulty that a f>assport 
can be obtained to visit auy part of their beautiful ter- 
ritory. 

In the month of March we had built and completed 
-our bungalows, or huts-, contair-ing iwo or three rooms 
each; but we had scarcely got housed when we received 
orders to proceed to Cawnpore by water, a tedious and 
long trip at that time of the year. 1 therefore, being 
almost tired of war's alarnss, began to turn my mind 
towards the object of my affi ctions, with whom I had 
kept up a constant correspondence durmg the whole cam- 
paign. I asked for permission to proceed by land to 
Cawnpore. This was readily granted, and I started alone 
on this long trip — a distance of four hundred and thirty 
miles. 



rKD OF VOL. I. 



6/ 



6 910 



